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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paul Britton

'Mate, you don't need to do this': Brother of Texas hostage taker begs him 'think about your kids' in final phone call

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.

The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue (Getty Images)

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.

All four hostages were unhurt (Getty Images)

"I'm going to die. I've told them I will release these four guys.

"I'll come on the yard and I will have a tow-to-toe with you."

Akram, in the call, also demands the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaeda who was convicted of trying to kill US troops in Afghanistan.

Gulbar urges him to think about his children and give himself up.

His brother can be heard saying: "Mate you don't need to do this, whatever you're doing man.

"Just pack it in mate, you'll do a bit of time and you'll come out.

"Whatever you're doing man, think about your kids man.

Police at the scene (Getty Images)

"These guys are innocent man.

"These guys you've got there are innocent people man."

After an expletive-riddled rant that's barely audible - in which he references the Taliban - he says: "Anyway, I'm getting off".

Akram was shot dead by the FBI after a reported 10-hour stand-off.

It's claimed he had entered the synagogue during a morning prayer service under the guise of being homeless.

The Jewish Chronicle reported the audio was obtained from a security services source.

It hasn't been verified.

In a statement attributed to his brother Gulbar, his family said they were 'devastated' by his death and spent hours talking to him and the FBI to try to secure a peaceful resolution to the hostage incident.

On Sunday night, two teenagers were detained in south Manchester by officers from Counter Terror Policing North West in connection with the attack.

And police revealed today that a further two men were arrested this morning - in Birmingham and Manchester.

All those arrested remain in custody.

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