Condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.

Whereas, on January 15, 2022, Malik Faisal Akram entered Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, taking four individuals hostage; Whereas MI5, Britain’s counterintelligence and security agency investigated Mr. Akram in 2020, and he was listed as a subject of interest, but was later determined to no longer pose a threat; Whereas Mr. Akram arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on December 29, 2021, staying in New York City for two days until taking a flight to Dallas, Texas; Whereas it is reported Mr. Akram chose the synagogue because it appeared to be the closest gathering of Jewish people to a Federal prison where he demanded to see a woman who is in custody after being found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and three counts of assault on United States officers and employees in Afghanistan; Whereas according to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2020 and 2021, there were 8,366 incidents of extremism or antisemitism in the United States; Whereas more than half of the religiously motivated hate crimes reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2020 were anti-Jewish hate crimes; Whereas Jewish Americans make up about 2 percent of the population of the United States, but crimes against them make up 55 percent of the anti-religious hate crimes in the United States; Whereas, on Sunday, January 16, 2022, President Joe Biden classified this attack as an act of terror and Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed we should combat antisemitism and hate wherever it exists; Whereas the four hostages were held for nearly 11 hours, during that time Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker used the skills he learned by attending several security courses hosted by local law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Secure Community Network; Whereas Good Shepherd Catholic Community church provided support and housed family members of the worshipers held inside the Synagogue during the 11 hour standoff; Whereas Pleasant Run Baptist Church offered their thoughts and support during the standoff, and allowed for their parking lot to be used by the media; Whereas worshipers who were watching service virtually contacted local law enforcement once they realized there was an incident underway at Congregation Beth Israel; and Whereas because of the swift response from local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers and emergency responders on the ground, no hostages were harmed during the hostage situation: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) stands with the community of Colleyville, Texas, the hostages, and all those affected by the terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel on January 15, 2022; (2) commends the Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers and emergency responders who responded to Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas; (3) condemns this heinous terrorist attack; and (4) reaffirms our commitment to combat hate, bigotry, antisemitism, and violence against Jewish Americans. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

Summary: This resolution condemns the terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022. It also expresses support for the affected community, commends the actions of law enforcement and emergency responders, and reaffirms a commitment to combat hate, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and violence against Jewish Americans.