A man claiming to be Pakistani national Aafia Sidiqui's brother who attacked a synagogue in Texas, and held the rabbi of the congregation and three other people hostage, has been killed by the US police. The hostages are unharmed.
The man was demanding Aafia's release from jail.
Following a 12-hour standoff, the authorities managed to get the hostages released and the hostage-taker was killed in the action.
Earlier, during the standoff, ABC News had identified him as Muhammad Siddiqui and reported that he was armed. He was quoted as saying that he is the brother of Aafia Siddiqui. Aafia, a Pakistani national, is serving her 86 year sentence in a prison in Texas after being convicted of involvement in terrorism.
However, media reports later suggested that the hostage taker was not Aafia's brother, and his claim was either a lie or an expression of ideological kinship.
Meanwhile, Aafia Siddiqu's lawyer has denied the impression that her client had anything to do with the incident. In a statement to CNN, Marwa Elbially said that Aafia did not want anyone to commit violence in her name. The lawyer added that Aafia and her family condemned the actions of the hostage-taker and are unaware about his identity.
The man was demanding Aafia's release from jail.
Following a 12-hour standoff, the authorities managed to get the hostages released and the hostage-taker was killed in the action.
Earlier, during the standoff, ABC News had identified him as Muhammad Siddiqui and reported that he was armed. He was quoted as saying that he is the brother of Aafia Siddiqui. Aafia, a Pakistani national, is serving her 86 year sentence in a prison in Texas after being convicted of involvement in terrorism.
However, media reports later suggested that the hostage taker was not Aafia's brother, and his claim was either a lie or an expression of ideological kinship.
Meanwhile, Aafia Siddiqu's lawyer has denied the impression that her client had anything to do with the incident. In a statement to CNN, Marwa Elbially said that Aafia did not want anyone to commit violence in her name. The lawyer added that Aafia and her family condemned the actions of the hostage-taker and are unaware about his identity.