New documentary reveals antisemitic hostage siege captured on camera at Texas synagogue

On a acold Saturday greeting successful January 2022, Congregation Beth Israel successful Colleyville, Texas, was a quiescent sanctuary successful a tiny community. As Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker prepared to pb a livestreamed service, a man, aboriginal identified arsenic Malik Faisal Akram, arrived astatine the synagogue. His beingness would alteration the people of the time forever.

A caller documentary, "Colleyville," directed by award-winning filmmaker Dani Menkin, reveals never-before-seen footage from the synagogue’s 13 information cameras, documenting the harrowing 11-hour hostage crisis successful real-time. The movie offers a chilling yet profoundly quality look astatine the bravery of the hostages and the resilience of a assemblage nether threat.

The time began with an enactment of kindness. Security footage shows Akram ringing the doorbell and being welcomed wrong by Cytron-Walker, who offered him beverage and a spot to lukewarm up. "I was conscionable trying to bash what we bash connected immoderate different day: connection kindness and welcome," the rabbi said.

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Security footage shows Rabbi Cytron-Walker with Malik Faisal Akram holding his weapon connected him. (Courtesy: Hey Jude productions)

But astatine 10:40 a.m., the ambiance shifted dramatically. Akram pulled retired a weapon and turned the 4 radical contiguous into hostages. "I’ve got semi-automatic guns. I’ve got two bombs, 80% of Jewish radical are going to dice if you don’t comply," helium shouted.

The information footage, revealed for the archetypal clip successful "Colleyville," captures each tense moment. Akram’s demands centered connected the merchandise of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, known arsenic "Lady al-Qaeda," held successful a adjacent Fort Worth prison. He believed his actions could unit planetary intervention, fueled by antisemitic conspiracy theories astir Jewish power of the world.

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"His distorted cognition was that either President Trump oregon President Biden would intervene, arsenic helium held onto the antisemitic content that Jews power the satellite and could power specified a decision," Menkin told Fox News Digital.

An equipped Malik Faisal Akram watching 1 of his hostages, Rabbi Cytron-Walker. (Courtesy: Hey Jude productions)

The movie highlights Akram’s progressively erratic behaviour and chilling rhetoric, including his declaration: "I emotion decease much than you Jews emotion life." Cytron-Walker said upon reflection that Akram "believed each the lies told astir Jewish radical – the Jews power the banks, the media, the world. It was a unsafe operation of extremism and antisemitism."

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Akram yet allowed congregant Larry Schwartz to leave. (Courtesy: Hey Jude productions)

Despite the fear, the hostages worked unneurotic to find moments of solidarity and opportunities to act. At 1 point, Akram allowed aged congregant Larry Schwartz to usage the restroom, informing him not to effort an escape. Shane Woodward, who was successful the process of converting to Judaism, pretended to consciousness sick and convinced Akram to fto him leave. Before exiting, Shane negotiated to power places with Larry, ensuring the older man’s safety.

As the hours wore on, the hostility escalated. Akram fired a changeable into the ceiling, an alarming enactment captured connected camera. Cytron-Walker, drafting connected his grooming successful progressive shooter scenarios, waited for the close moment. That infinitesimal came erstwhile Akram held a cupful of liquid successful his ascendant hand, temporarily preventing him from pulling the trigger.

"I saw however helium held the cup, and I knew it was our champion chance," Cytron-Walker told Fox News Digital. In a decisive move, helium threw a seat astatine Akram, creating a model for escape. "We weren’t acold from the exit. It was a split-second decision, but it was the culmination of hours of watching, waiting, and thinking."

The hostages bolted retired of the synagogue, with Cytron-Walker starring the charge. Moments later, instrumentality enforcement stormed the building, ending the standoff. None of the hostages were physically harmed, though the intelligence toll of the ordeal lingered. "It was a horrible day, but we had truthful overmuch to beryllium grateful for," helium said.

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A instrumentality enforcement conveyance sits successful beforehand of Congregation Beth Israel connected Jan. 16, 2022, successful Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

"Colleyville" combines the earthy strength of the information footage with poignant storytelling, offering viewers an unflinching look astatine the emergence of antisemitism and the enduring spot of those who look it. "The footage itself was thing that hadn’t been seen before," Menkin said. "It’s incredibly uncommon to spot a play similar this unfold successful specified a cinematic way. The earthy emotions, the hostility – it’s a terrifying reminder of the information of hateful ideologies."

Cytron-Walker, who had agelong been an advocator for interfaith engagement, emphasized the value of balancing Jewish values with security. "Love the alien is simply a batch harder than emotion your neighbor," helium said. "But we person to support ourselves too." Since the crisis, his synagogue has importantly accrued its information budget.

Released astatine a clip of rising antisemitism worldwide, Cyrton-Walker said, "We’re seeing much of this benignant of hatred," adding, "It’s adjacent much important present to emotion the alien portion ensuring due security."