Second of two men arrested in Manchester as part of investigation into Texas synagogue siege is released without charge

• Second man arrested over the Texas synagogue siege is released without charge
• He was one of two men arrested in Manchester, with the other already released
• The attack was carried out by Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn, on January 15
• Counter Terrorism North West said they will continue to support US authorities

A man arrested in Manchester as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue siege has been released without charge.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West said officers were continuing to support US authorities with their investigation into the attack, carried out by Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn in Lancashire, on January 15.

A force spokesman said a man who was arrested in Manchester last week was released from police custody today.

The man was one of two arrested in Manchester as part of the local investigation on Wednesday. The force confirmed the other man had been released on Thursday.

Malik Faisal Akram is seen in this photo taken at a faith-based daytime outreach center in Dallas, Texas, USA, January 2, 2022

Akram, 44, was shot dead when the FBI entered the place of worship in Colleyville following a 10-hour stand-off.

He held four people hostage during the incident, but they were later released unharmed.

FBI director Christopher Wray called the stand-off an antisemitic incident, while US President Joe Biden said it was an ‘act of terror’.

The FBI said Akram was not known to US intelligence services, with the agency conducting ‘rigorous’ analysis of Akram’s associates, his online presence, and his devices.

The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue is shown, Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas, where Akram held four people hostage before being shot by FBI and SWAT teams

He flew to New York on December 29 before later travelling to Texas and entering the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue.

Akram, who is understood to have had a criminal record, was investigated by the UK’s security service MI5 in 2020 but deemed not to be a credible threat to national security, official sources confirmed.

It is not yet clear how he was able to travel to the US despite his criminal past. He is believed to have arrived at New York’s JFK Airport two weeks before the attack took place.

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