Rabbi held hostage threw a chair at gunman to escape
![Texas synagogue Congregation Beth Israel](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/68DX39hps7CZ4fsEwvrQUd-415-80.jpg)
One of the people held hostage by a gunman at a Texas synagogue recalled details of the disturbing event on Monday, telling CBS News how he survived.
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker said he let the gunman into Congregation Beth Israel on Saturday because he appeared to need shelter, per The Associated Press. Cytron-Walker and another member of the congregation, Jeffrey R. Cohen, said they relied on past security trainings during the 11-hour standoff. "Where I saw an opportunity when he wasn't in a good position," recalled Cytron-Walker to CBS, "I told [the other hostages] to go, I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door."
"We escaped," Cohen said. "We weren't released or freed." The suspect released one hostage earlier in the evening, and the remaining three got out around 10 p.m.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.K. government confirmed on Sunday that the suspect, now identified as Malik Faisal Akram, was a British national. Akram was reportedly killed by FBI agents responding to the scene.
The FBI is investigating the case as a terrorist incident, reports The Washington Post, and British authorities arrested two teenagers in relation to the investigation.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Why the UK phone signal is so poor
Under The Radar Having trouble connecting? A lack of investment, planning rules and even your home could be to blame
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Battleground states to watch in the 2024 election
In Depth These seven states could end up deciding who wins the White House this year
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Leave the crowds behind at these 7 sensational hotels
The Week Recommends Traveling in September means more room to explore
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published