Texas synagogue standoff: Rabbi threw chair at hostage-taker to allow escape
Rabbi recounts standoff: Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker was one of four people held hostage at the Congregation Beth-Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Wade/Associated Press )
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — The Texas rabbi who was among four people held hostage for more than 11 hours in a synagogue Saturday said they were able to escape after he threw a chair at the hostage-taker.
During a Monday interview with “CBS Mornings,” Charlie Cytron-Walker said that he let the gunman, who was later identified as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram, inside the Congregation Beth-Israel synagogue in Colleyville, the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth reported. Akram was later killed after the hostages escaped.
Cytron-Walker let Akram into the building, believing the man needed shelter, the rabbi said during his interview. He said he made the man tea and talked with him, the Star-Telegram reported.
The rabbi said that while he was praying and his back was turned, he heard a click and later realized it was Akram’s gun, according to The Associated Press.
“It was terrifying. It was overwhelming. We’re still processing”: Rabbi Charlie Cytron Walker shares what he experienced inside the Texas synagogue where four hostages were held at gunpoint over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/ZX8DrQkjJj
“We do that in hospital rooms,” Cytron-Walker said. “We do that during the most difficult of individual moments. And I did the best I could to do that throughout the standoff.”
During the last hour of the standoff, Cytron-Walker said, Akram was becoming frustrated.
“It didn’t look good,” the rabbi said. “It didn’t sound good. We were terrified.”
When he saw an opportunity, Cytron-Walker threw a chair at Akram and ran out along with the remaining hostages, the Star-Telegram reported.
Jeffrey Cohen, the vice president on the synagogue’s board of trustees who was also held hostage, described Saturday’s ordeal in a Facebook post on Monday.
“First of all, we escaped,” Cohen said, according to the AP. “We weren’t released or freed.”
At one point as the situation deteriorated, Cohen said the gunman told them to get on their knees.
Cohen stood up in his chair and mouthed “No.” As the gunman moved to sit back down, Cohen said Cytron-Walker yelled to run.
“The exit wasn’t too far away,” Cytron-Walker told “CBS Mornings.” “I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. And all three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired.”
Akram came to the U.S. on a tourist visa from Great Britain, the AP reported, citing a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that its counter-terrorism police were working with U.S. authorities about the incident.
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Texas synagogue standoff An aerial view of police standing in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. A man held hostages for more than 10 hours Saturday inside the temple. The hostages were able to escape and the hostage taker was killed. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate "the shooting incident." (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) (Brandon Wade/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff A law enforcement official stands patrol on a main road leading to Congregation Beth Israel synagogue where a man had held hostages for hours on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Law enforcement officials gather at Colleyville Elementary School near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 in Colleyville, Texas. Authorities said a man took hostages Saturday during services at the synagogue where the suspect could be heard ranting in a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Colleyville Chief of Police Michael C. Miller, from left, Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno, and Dallas ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II, center in black, talk amongst each other after a news conference where they announced that all hostages at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue were safe and the hostage taker was dead on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff A Texas state trooper blocks traffic on a road leading to a Colleyville, Texas, synagogue where a man apparently took hostages, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jake Bleiberg) (Jake Bleiberg/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Law enforcement process the scene in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. A man held hostages for more than 10 hours Saturday inside the temple. The hostages were able to escape and the hostage taker was killed. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate "the shooting incident." (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) (Brandon Wade/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Law enforcement officials block a residential street near Congregation Beth Israel synagogue where a man took hostages during services on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson) (Garreth Patterson/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue is shown, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. A man held hostages for more than 10 hours Saturday inside the temple. The hostages were able to escape and the hostage taker was killed. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate "the shooting incident." (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) (Brandon Wade/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Police stand in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. A man held hostages for more than 10 hours Saturday inside the temple. The hostages were able to escape and the hostage taker was killed. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate "the shooting incident." (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) (Brandon Wade/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Law enforcement officials gather at a local school near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 in Colleyville, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson) (Garreth Patterson/AP)
Texas synagogue standoff Emergency responders gather at Colleyville Elementary School near Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. Authorities said a man took hostages Saturday during services at the Texas synagogue where the suspect could be heard ranting in a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
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