Two Manchester teenagers arrested in connection with Texas hostage-taking are released by police

Two teenagers arrested in south Manchester in connection with a hostage-taking at a synagogue in Texas have been released without charge.

The two were detained on Sunday as part of the investigation into Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old man from Blackburn, who took four people hostage at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville on Saturday. The hostages escaped unharmed but Akram was shot dead after an 11-hour siege.

In an update on Tuesday night, GMP said an address in North Manchester has also been searched as part of the CTP North West investigation.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Dominic Scally, of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: “CTP North West is continuing to assist with the investigation which is being led by US authorities. Overnight, constructive meetings with colleagues from the United States have taken place.”

“As part of our enquiries, we’re also working with colleagues in other forces and Lancashire Police are working with communities in the Blackburn area to put measures in place to provide reassurance.”

It comes as Khan’s brother, who condemned the attack, issued a new statement revealing he pleaded with his brother to ‘pack in’ the siege and come home. The family has raised questions as to how Khan was allowed to enter the USA in the first place.

It has also emerged Khan was known to MI5 who had investigated him in 2020 but closed the case, according to BBC reports.