Law enforcement in a small town in Texas, United States, were negotiating on Saturday with a man who appeared to have taken several people hostage at a synagogue, according to police and local media.
Police in Colleyville, near Dallas, said late morning that an intervention force operation was underway at an address corresponding to the synagogue of Congregation Beth Israel.
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The voice of an agitated man at times could be heard on the broadcast of the religious service live on Facebook, consulted by AFP.
“
I am going to die
,” said this man of unknown identity, who repeatedly asked an unidentified interlocutor for his sister to be on the phone.
Evacuation of nearby residents
“
The negotiators have contacted this person and are working toward a safe outcome
,” Colleyville Police Sgt. Dara Nelson told
The Dallas Morning News
of the alleged hostage taker .
The number of people in the synagogue was not known, the sergeant said.
Police said they are evacuating nearby residents.
The incident was still ongoing as of 1:20 p.m. local time (7:20 p.m. GMT), police later said, asking the public to avoid the area.
The live broadcast, interrupted at 1:50 p.m. (7:50 p.m. GMT), showed only one lectern, with those inside the synagogue standing out of frame.
Asked by AFP, the local authorities did not immediately respond.