- Magdeburg verliert Viertelfinal-Hinspiel in Kielce
- Niners Chemnitz holen den FIBA Europe Cup
- SZ: Rangnick muss "nur noch Ja" sagen
- Ermittlungen gegen Ehefrau: Spaniens Regierungschef Sánchez erwägt Rücktritt
- Skispringer Kobayashi fliegt auf 291 Meter: "Ein Traum"
- Masters-Debütant Hassan kämpft in Madrid vergeblich
- Spionageaffäre und mögliche Geldzahlungen: AfD-Politiker Krah zunehmend unter Druck
- WHO: Impfungen haben seit 1974 mindestens 154 Millionen Menschenleben gerettet
- Biden unterschreibt Ukraine-Hilfen: Lieferbeginn "sofort, in den nächsten Stunden"
- "Spiegel": Pistorius fordert elf Milliarden Euro für Litauen-Brigade
- Vorermittlungen zu "angeblichen Zahlungen" an Krah aus Russland und China
- Streit vor Verfassungsgericht: Union und Linke wollen neues Wahlrecht kippen
- Tiktok-Chef kündigt gerichtliches Vorgehen gegen US-Ultimatum an
- Lange verschollenes Klimt-Gemälde für 30 Millionen Euro versteigert
- Minister: Israel führt "Offensivaktion" gegen Hisbollah im Südlibanon aus
- Medien: Skispringer Kobayashi fliegt auf 291 Meter
- "Wir brauchen einander": Steinmeier und Erdogan plädieren für Annäherung
- Eine neue Ära des Wachstums: 2024 GAC International Globale Vertriebshändler-Konferenz
- 9fin erweitert sein Führungsteam mit der Beförderung zum VP Content
- Auf Druck aus Brüssel: Tiktok setzt umstrittene Belohnungsfunktion aus
- Mobis beginnt in Spanien mit dem Bau einer Batteriesystemfabrik für Elektrofahrzeuge für Volkswagen
- Niederlage für Kneipp in Markenstreit mit französischem Unternehmen
- CDU-Abgeordneter Heilmann will Klimagesetz vor Verfassungsgericht ausbremsen
- Fünf Jahre Haft für Busfahrer wegen sexuellen Missbrauchs in Bielefeld
- Fünf mutmaßliche Mitglieder von Drogenbande in Berlin festgenommen
- Fäkalbakterien im Grundwasser: Nestlé vernichtet Teile seiner Perrier-Produktion
- Steinmeier und Erdogan wollen inmitten von Spannungen Beziehungen verbessern
- Prozess gegen mutmaßlichen Russland-Spion bei Bundeswehr ab Montag in Düsseldorf
- Renten steigen um 4,57 Prozent - erstmals bundesweit einheitliche Erhöhung
- Bundesregierung hebt Prognose an - Stimmung in Unternehmen steigt
- Streit vor Bundesverfassungsgericht: Union und Linke wollen neues Wahlrecht kippen
- SulPayments Schweiz und Gamecash Mexiko vereinigen sich unter einer internationalen Holdingstruktur, um das lokale Zahlungsangebot in Lateinamerika zu...
- Kamel verhilft rund einem Dutzend Zirkustieren zu Ausbruch in Rheinland-Pfalz
- Plan für mehr Wohnraum: Regierung will Obdachlosigkeit bis 2030 überwinden
- Spionage aus China: Verfassungsschutz warnt vor "voller Bandbreite"
- Bericht: Lieferdienste Getir und Gorillas verschwinden Mitte Mai aus Deutschland
- Freispruch in Mordprozess um 1978 getöteten Rentner in München
- Probleme bei der 737 MAX: Boeing verbucht Verlust von 343 Millionen Dollar
- Deutschland und Großbritannien wollen bei Verteidigung verstärkt zusammenarbeiten
- BGH hebt Freispruch für Mutter nach Sektenmord an Vierjährigem vor 36 Jahren auf
- AfD plant Ausschlussverfahren gegen bayerischen Abgeordneten Halemba
- Frankreichs Ex-Premier Fillon in Scheinarbeitsaffäre endgültig schuldig gesprochen
- BSW setzt bei Kampagne für Europawahl auf ganz Zugkraft von Sahra Wagenknecht
- Scholz nennt Spionage-Vorwürfe gegen Krah-Mitarbeiter "sehr besorgniserregend"
- Versicherungen zahlen Rekordsumme für gestohlene Fahrräder
- Razzia gegen mutmaßliche Linksextremisten in Leipzig
- Hannover vs. Braunschweig: Derby ohne Gästefans?
- Bundesanwaltschaft klagt sieben Islamisten wegen Anschlagsplanungen an
- Bundesregierung hebt Wachstumsprognose minimal auf 0,3 Prozent an
- Nach monatelangen Verhandlungen: EU-Parlament beschließt Lieferkettengesetz
Texas synagogue hostage-taker 'prayed for two years' for attack: reports
A British man who took hostages at a Texas synagogue told his family he had prayed for two years to carry out the attack, media reported Thursday, as police made two arrests.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn in northwest England, was shot dead by the FBI during a 10-hour siege in the small town of Colleyville last Saturday.
His four hostages, including a rabbi, were all freed unharmed.
The London-based Jewish Chronicle published on its website what it said was a recording of Akram's last phone call with his brother back home, where he outlined his aims.
Akram tells his brother, Gulbar, during the siege, "I've come to die", adding that he wants to "go down as a martyr" and is "bombed up" with "every ammunition".
His brother urges him to give himself up.
The BBC said experts believe the call is genuine.
Suggesting the attack was long-planned, Akram said: "I've prayed to Allah for two years for this... I'm coming back home in a body bag".
The recording raises further questions about the thoroughness of a recent investigation into Akram by British security services.
Media reports have said Akram was investigated in 2020 by Britain's domestic security agency MI5 after he spent six months in Pakistan.
But the probe was shut down after just over a month due to lack of evidence that he was a threat, and he was able to travel to the United States without being flagged as a risk.
British counter-terrorism police meanwhile said Thursday they were questioning two men after early-morning arrests as part of an investigation into the incident.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted that the men were arrested in Birmingham, central England, and in Manchester, some 21 miles (34 kilometres) from Blackburn.
UK police have previously arrested two teenagers in connection with the US investigation. They were released without charge. A property was also searched in Manchester.
Akram's family have said he had mental health problems and had a criminal record.
He had lived in Blackburn, an economically depressed former mill town, with his wife and six children but had reportedly moved out before travelling to the United States.
His father Malik Akram told the Daily Mail his son phoned home several times during the siege and claimed to have "hundreds of bullets".
"He has destroyed himself and he has destroyed us," he was quoted as saying.
- 'Lady Al-Qaeda' -
In the phone call, Akram said he was demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist known as "Lady Al-Qaeda" whose detention has been a cause celebre for jihadists.
"I've told them (the hostages): 'Bring her here'," Akram says.
"She's got 84 years (in prison). They're talking to her because I'm near the prison FMC Carswell", the jail where Siddiqui is incarcerated in Fort Worth.
Siddiqui, a 49-year-old US-educated Pakistani scientist, is serving an 86-year sentence for the attempted murder of US soldiers in Afghanistan.
She was sentenced in 2010, prompting protests in Pakistan and a call for revenge from Al-Qaeda's then number two.
Her lawyer has denied she had any involvement in the siege.
In an increasingly agitated call, Akram says Siddiqui was "framed".
He refers to the beheading of US journalist James Foley by the so-called Islamic State group in 2014, after the hostage-takers demanded Siddiqui's release.
"They let him die and they didn't release her but guess what, maybe they'll have compassion for fucking Jews," he says.
The Times on Thursday said Akram had twice been referred to a British government programme called Prevent, which aims to dissuade people seen as vulnerable to radicalisation.
It cited sources as saying Akram was referred in 2016 and 2019 over "concerns about his anti-Western and conservative Islamic views".
But it was unclear whether he engaged with the voluntary scheme, the daily added.
S.Keller--BTB