Texas synagogue hostage-taker was known to MI5

Malik Faisal Akram, who took four people hostage at a synagogue in Texas last week, was the subject of a MI5 investigation in late 2020 but by the time he flew to the US he was assessed to be no longer a risk.

The 44-year-old was shot dead by police after holding four people hostage at a synagogue in Colleyville, near Dallas, all of whom were eventually freed unharmed after a 10-hour siege.

Two teenagers remain in custody after being arrested in England as part of the investigation. Both Greater Manchester Police and the Metropolitan Police have said they are in contact with the US authorities over the investigation.

According to the BBC, Akram had been on the British security service's watchlist as a ‘subject of interest’ in 2020.