The FBI attends a hostage taking at a synagogue in Texas

An armored vehicle parked at the entrance to the synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. SHELBY TAUBER (REUTERS)

A gunman stormed a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, about 25 miles northwest of Dallas, on Saturday and took several people hostage as they celebrated a Sabbath ceremony.

Both the FBI and police rapid action teams were mobilized and negotiators contacted the suspect who was holding at least four people, one of them a rabbi, according to the CNN news network.

The hostage-taking occurred during a religious service at the synagogue of the Beth Israel congregation, which was being broadcast live on the community's Facebook website, according to the local

Due to the rigors imposed by the pandemic, many of the faithful followed the religious service from their homes.

Colleyville police, through their Twitter account, reported that they were responding with a SWAT team to an emergency call at 6100 Pleasant Run Street.

“All residents of the immediate area are being evacuated.

Please avoid the area,” police warned.

More than 8,000 people connected to the video of the live broadcast once the first information about what happened was known on social networks, until finally the broadcast was suspended without the situation inside the synagogue having been resolved.

Journalist Jessika Harkay of the

is broadcasting live on Twitter from the scene.

According to Harkay, phrases from the kidnapper were heard, although there were no images of what was happening.

"Don't cry on the phone with me", is heard in the streaming audio on Facebook.

"Don't cry for me, dammit.

I have six beautiful children... There are hostages in the synagogue who are going to die... Why are you crying?

And he continues: “I'm going to die, are you listening to me?... I'm going to die doing this, okay?

Are you listening to me?

I'm going to die.

Do not Cry for Me".

He is also heard saying, "Something is wrong in America."

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