Man threatened hostages over scientist’s jailing, inquest told

The court heard Akram told FBI negotiators he wanted the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist who was serving an 86-year jail term in the nearby Fort Worth prison over attempts to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan.

The inquest was told Akram, who told negotiators his name was Khalid, said anyone within a 330ft (100m) radius of the synagogue should be evacuated because he had explosives.

He also fired the gun into the air during a call to his sons, telling negotiators he was saying his “last goodbyes to them”.

The court heard Akram’s brother Gulbar tried to persuade him to stop the siege on a call, telling him his hostages were innocent and urging him to think about his children.

Akram later agreed to release a hostage who was diabetic.

The inquest was told he later became agitated and would not engage with negotiators, before becoming aggressive during a final call and telling the remaining three hostages to “get on their knees”.

He said he would give officers another hour to fulfil his demands, before adding: “When you come, you better kill me ’cause I’ll put a bullet in you now.”

Akram’s brother, Gulbar, excused himself before the recording was played, telling the coroner: “I have only got good memories of my brother.”