1 hostage released uninjured from Texas synagogue, police say

A man took hostages Saturday during services at a Texas synagogue, according to authorities, and the situation is ongoing.

At least four hostages were initially believed to be inside the synagogue, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The rabbi of the synagogue, located in Colleyville — a community of about 26,000 people near Forth Worth — was believed to be among the hostages, one of the officials said. A law enforcement official said the man who took the hostages claimed to be armed but authorities have not confirmed whether he is.

The Colleyville Police Department said one hostage was released shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday. He was expected to be reunited with his family soon and did not require medical attention.

FBI crisis negotiators were continuing to communicate with the man who took the hostages, police said.

Authorities are still trying to discern a precise motive. The officials said investigators have not positively identified the man and cautioned that the information was based on a preliminary investigation as the situation was still rapidly developing.

Police were first called to the synagogue around 11 a.m. and people were evacuated from the surrounding neighbourhood soon after that, FBI Dallas spokesperson Katie Chaumont said. There have been no reported injuries, Chaumont said.

"It's an evolving situation, and we have a lot of law enforcement personnel on scene," Chaumont said.

Services were being livestreamed on the synagogue's Facebook page when events transpired.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Saturday evening that President Joe Biden had been briefed and was receiving updates from senior officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he was monitoring the situation closely. "We pray for the safety of the hostages and rescuers," he wrote on Twitter.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the U.S., condemned the attack Saturday.

"This latest antisemitic attack at a house of worship is an unacceptable act of evil," CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement. "We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, and we pray that law enforcement authorities are able to swiftly and safely free the hostages. No cause can justify or excuse this crime."