'Mate, you don't need to do this': Brother of Texas hostage taker begs him 'think about your kids' in final phone call
20.01.2022 - 17:42
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The British gunman who took hostages at a synagogue in Texas was urged by his brother to surrender in their final phone call, it was reported today.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn, held four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, US, on Sunday.
All four were released without being hurt, but he was shot and killed by FBI after a 10-hour siege.
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Counter-terror police have made arrests in Manchester in connection with an ongoing investigation.
A recording of the telephone conversation was obtained by the Jewish Chronicle.
In it, the Chronicle reports Akram tells his brother he wanted to 'kiss my last goodbye to you' - and adds: "I've come to die."
He also makes references to 'martyrdom' and says he will go 'toe-to-toe' with armed police who were at the scene.
Akram was speaking with his brother, Gulbar, 43, reportedly from a police station in Blackburn as part of the effort to try to get him to surrender, the Chronicle reports.
"Yeah I'm in America, thought I would kiss my last goodbye to you," Akram says.
He's asked by his brother what has happened and replies: "Yeah I've taken some hostages.. I've been surrounded...I'm in a synagogue."
He's asked 'why are you doing that man?'
"Why you doing that for? What's wrong with you?," asks his brother.
But he says: "I've come to die.
"I'm gonna take them toe-to-toe anyway."
He says he 'promised to go down as a martyr' and adds: "I'm surrounded - I'm in a synagogue."
Akram goes on to say he's 'bombed up' and 'I've got f****** every ammunition'.
"I've only been here two weeks and I have got them all at gunpoint," he adds in the audio recording.
"I'm going to die. I've told them I will release these four guys.
"I'll come on the