New documentary reveals antisemitic hostage siege captured on camera at Texas synagogue
Unseen security footage from the 11-hour Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis, capturing terror and resilience, is shown for the first time in a new documentary.
Join Fox News for access to this content
Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge.
By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.
Please enter a valid email address.
By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.
Having trouble? Click here.On a cold Saturday morning in January 2022, Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, was a quiet sanctuary in a small community. As Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker prepared to lead a livestreamed service, a man, later identified as Malik Faisal Akram, arrived at the synagogue. His presence would change the course of the day forever.
A new documentary, "Colleyville," directed by award-winning filmmaker Dani Menkin, reveals never-before-seen footage from the synagogueās 13 security cameras, documenting the harrowing 11-hour hostage crisis in real-time. The film offers a chilling yet profoundly human look at the bravery of the hostages and the resilience of a community under threat.
The day began with an act of kindness. Security footage shows Akram ringing the doorbell and being welcomed inside by Cytron-Walker, who offered him tea and a place to warm up. "I was just trying to do what we do on any other day: offer kindness and welcome," the rabbi said.
TEXAS OFFICIALS REACT TO NEWS OF HOSTAGE SITUATION IN COLLEYVILLE SYNAGOGUE
But at 10:40 a.m., the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Akram pulled out a gun and turned the four people present into hostages. "Iāve got semi-automatic guns. Iāve got two bombs, 80% of Jewish people are going to die if you donāt comply," he shouted.
The security footage, revealed for the first time in "Colleyville," captures every tense moment. Akramās demands centered on the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, known as "Lady al-Qaeda," held in a nearby Fort Worth prison. He believed his actions could force global intervention, fueled by antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the world.
FBI: TEXAS SYNAGOGUE HOSTAGE INCIDENT BOTH A 'HATE CRIME' AND 'ACT OF TERRORISM' TARGETING JEWISH COMMUNITY
"His distorted perception was that either President Trump or President Biden would intervene, as he held onto the antisemitic belief that Jews control the world and could influence such a decision," Menkin told Fox News Digital.
The film highlights Akramās increasingly erratic behavior and chilling rhetoric, including his declaration: "I love death more than you Jews love life." Cytron-Walker said upon reflection that Akram "believed all the lies told about Jewish people ā the Jews control the banks, the media, the world. It was a dangerous combination of extremism and antisemitism."
HOUSTON RABBI ON āFRIGHTENINGā COLLEYVILLE SYNAGOGUE HOSTAGE SITUATION: āWEāRE GOING TO INCREASE OUR SECURITY
Despite the fear, the hostages worked together to find moments of solidarity and opportunities to act. At one point, Akram allowed elderly congregant Larry Schwartz to use the restroom, warning him not to attempt an escape. Shane Woodward, who was in the process of converting to Judaism, pretended to feel ill and convinced Akram to let him leave. Before exiting, Shane negotiated to switch places with Larry, ensuring the older manās safety.
As the hours wore on, the tension escalated. Akram fired a shot into the ceiling, an alarming act captured on camera. Cytron-Walker, drawing on his training in active shooter scenarios, waited for the right moment. That moment came when Akram held a cup of liquid in his dominant hand, temporarily preventing him from pulling the trigger.
"I saw how he held the cup, and I knew it was our best chance," Cytron-Walker told Fox News Digital. In a decisive move, he threw a chair at Akram, creating a window for escape. "We werenāt far from the exit. It was a split-second decision, but it was the culmination of hours of watching, waiting, and thinking."
The hostages bolted out of the synagogue, with Cytron-Walker leading the charge. Moments later, law enforcement stormed the building, ending the standoff. None of the hostages were physically harmed, though the psychological toll of the ordeal lingered. "It was a horrible day, but we had so much to be grateful for," he said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"Colleyville" combines the raw intensity of the security footage with poignant storytelling, offering viewers an unflinching look at the rise of antisemitism and the enduring strength of those who face it. "The footage itself was something that hadnāt been seen before," Menkin said. "Itās incredibly rare to see a drama like this unfold in such a cinematic way. The raw emotions, the tension ā itās a terrifying reminder of the danger of hateful ideologies."
Cytron-Walker, who had long been an advocate for interfaith engagement, emphasized the importance of balancing Jewish values with security. "Love the stranger is a lot harder than love your neighbor," he said. "But we have to protect ourselves too." Since the crisis, his synagogue has significantly increased its security budget.
Released at a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, Cyrton-Walker said, "Weāre seeing more of this kind of hatred," adding, "Itās even more important now to love the stranger while ensuring proper security."
Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.
The Love Island couple went their separate ways over the summer and Fury - who has been dogged by claims he was unfaithful - has now set the record straight.
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
They are sharply divided on some of President-elect Donald Trumpās proposed actions.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
YouTuber Jack Massey Walsh revealed he had managed to walk 250,000 steps in a week and noticed some surprising changes to his body - so we spoke to two experts on whether this is a safe way to lose weight
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
They are sharply divided on some of President-elect Donald Trumpās proposed actions.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(698x257:700x259)/celine-dion-011525-1-e6dbfbd1bae04e9c8c8d76b1720b18b2.jpg)
Singer CƩline Dion has three sons, RenƩ-Charles and twins Nelson and Eddy, with her late husband RenƩ Angelil. See their most adorable pictures as a family, from their baby photos to their sweet holiday celebrations.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(698x257:700x259)/celine-dion-011525-1-e6dbfbd1bae04e9c8c8d76b1720b18b2.jpg&description=CƩline Dion's Cutest Moments with Her Children Singer CƩline Dion has three sons, RenƩ-Charles and twins Nelson and Eddy, with her late husband RenƩ Angelil. See their most adorable pictures as a family, from their baby photos to their sweet holiday celebrations. %23singer) |
|
|
The famous actor's wife revealed what life has been like for the couple since the deadly wildfires in the area started last week.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Demi Moore has ānever been more at peaceā in her life, and an insider exclusively tells In Touch that sheās ālooking forward to the futureā and is āgrateful.ā
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 Demi Moore has ānever been more at peaceā in her life, and an insider exclusively tells In Touch that sheās ālooking forward to the futureā and is āgrateful.ā %23demimoore) |
|
|
Wearing a long weave and extended fake eyelashes, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) threw shade at Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) during a tense House hearing on Tuesday,
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 threw shade at Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) during a tense House hearing on Tuesday, %23jasminecrockett) |
|
|
Drake accused Universal Music Group of sreading the āfalse and malicious narrativeā that heās āa pedophile.ā
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Two highly acclaimed films are leading in nominations at the BAFTAās this year. Find out which movies are being recognized, below.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.