- Gaza mediator Qatar bows out, source says, in sign of impasse
- Musiala stars as Bayern go six clear, Dortmund lose again
- 'Racing career: completed it!' announces cycling great Cavendish
- Waring holds one-shot Abu Dhabi lead as McIlroy struggles
- Vinicius treble helps Real Madrid crush Osasuna
- Iran urges Trump to change 'maximum pressure' policy
- Goal-shy Lecce fire coach Gotti
- Comeback king 'Cav' set a benchmark doing the thing he loved
- UK's Queen Camilla to miss events as Kate returns to public life
- Cycling great Cavendish announces retirement
- Rome's Trevi Fountain unveils tourist catwalk during cleaning
- Defence puts a smile on All Blacks faces ahead of French Test
- Kagiyama wins NHK Trophy despite early slip
- Afghan women not barred from speaking to each other: morality ministry
- China's Xi hails 'new chapter' in relations with Indonesia
- Injured Darry out of All Blacks tour with Cane in doubt
- Pakistani separatists kill 26 in railway station blast
- China's Xi meets Indonesian president in Beijing
- Key nominees for the 2025 Grammy Awards
- Top art collector displays rare treasures in Madrid
- Pakistani separatists kill 25 in railway station blast
- South Sudan floods affect 1.4 million, displace 379,000: UN
- Japan's Sasaki set to follow Ohtani with move to MLB
- Konstas hits unbeaten 73 in audition to open for Australia
- Pakistani separatists kill 22 in railway station blast
- No culprit found five years on from Notre Dame fire
- Reeking mud sparks health fears in Spain flood epicentre
- Bogusz goal edges LAFC past Whitecaps in MLS playoffs
- N. Korea jams GPS signals, affecting ships, aircraft in South
- Indonesia volcano catapults vast ash tower into sky
- Cavs ride huge first half to crushing win over Warriors
- Over 130 homes lost in California wildfire as winds drop
- New tools give researchers hope for fungus-ravaged US bats
- Germany marks 1989 Berlin Wall fall with 'Preserve Freedom' party
- Heat, air pollution, disease: How climate change affects health
- Boeing to face civil trial over 2019 MAX crash
- Over 130 homes lost in California wildfire as winds abate for now
- 'No excuses', says Farrell after All Blacks end Irish home win streak
- Furious de Zerbi talks of leaving after Marseille lose to Auxerre
- UK rules drivers on Bolt ride-hailing platform are employees
- US stocks hit fresh records as European bourses retreat
- McKenzie boots All Blacks to victory over sloppy Irish
- Star striker Mekhloufi symbol of Algerian struggle dies at 88
- Marseille lose further ground in title race with Auxerre loss
- Climate crusader to vaccine skeptic RFK Jr to 'Make America Healthy Again'
- US announces charges in alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump
- Daughter of missing Mexico environment defender pleads for global help
- After Trump victory, EU leaders vow 'urgent' economic reform
- Death toll from Mozambique election protests rises to at least 30
- Beyonce leads Grammy nods after trailblazing country album
Texas synagogue hostage-taker 'prayed for two years' for attack: reports
A British man who took hostages at a Texas synagogue told his family he had prayed for two years to carry out the attack, media reported Thursday, as police made two arrests.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn in northwest England, was shot dead by the FBI during a 10-hour siege in the small town of Colleyville last Saturday.
His four hostages, including a rabbi, were all freed unharmed.
The London-based Jewish Chronicle published on its website what it said was a recording of Akram's last phone call with his brother back home, where he outlined his aims.
Akram tells his brother, Gulbar, during the siege, "I've come to die", adding that he wants to "go down as a martyr" and is "bombed up" with "every ammunition".
His brother urges him to give himself up.
The BBC said experts believe the call is genuine.
Suggesting the attack was long-planned, Akram said: "I've prayed to Allah for two years for this... I'm coming back home in a body bag".
The recording raises further questions about the thoroughness of a recent investigation into Akram by British security services.
Media reports have said Akram was investigated in 2020 by Britain's domestic security agency MI5 after he spent six months in Pakistan.
But the probe was shut down after just over a month due to lack of evidence that he was a threat, and he was able to travel to the United States without being flagged as a risk.
British counter-terrorism police meanwhile said Thursday they were questioning two men after early-morning arrests as part of an investigation into the incident.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted that the men were arrested in Birmingham, central England, and in Manchester, some 21 miles (34 kilometres) from Blackburn.
UK police have previously arrested two teenagers in connection with the US investigation. They were released without charge. A property was also searched in Manchester.
Akram's family have said he had mental health problems and had a criminal record.
He had lived in Blackburn, an economically depressed former mill town, with his wife and six children but had reportedly moved out before travelling to the United States.
His father Malik Akram told the Daily Mail his son phoned home several times during the siege and claimed to have "hundreds of bullets".
"He has destroyed himself and he has destroyed us," he was quoted as saying.
- 'Lady Al-Qaeda' -
In the phone call, Akram said he was demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist known as "Lady Al-Qaeda" whose detention has been a cause celebre for jihadists.
"I've told them (the hostages): 'Bring her here'," Akram says.
"She's got 84 years (in prison). They're talking to her because I'm near the prison FMC Carswell", the jail where Siddiqui is incarcerated in Fort Worth.
Siddiqui, a 49-year-old US-educated Pakistani scientist, is serving an 86-year sentence for the attempted murder of US soldiers in Afghanistan.
She was sentenced in 2010, prompting protests in Pakistan and a call for revenge from Al-Qaeda's then number two.
Her lawyer has denied she had any involvement in the siege.
In an increasingly agitated call, Akram says Siddiqui was "framed".
He refers to the beheading of US journalist James Foley by the so-called Islamic State group in 2014, after the hostage-takers demanded Siddiqui's release.
"They let him die and they didn't release her but guess what, maybe they'll have compassion for fucking Jews," he says.
The Times on Thursday said Akram had twice been referred to a British government programme called Prevent, which aims to dissuade people seen as vulnerable to radicalisation.
It cited sources as saying Akram was referred in 2016 and 2019 over "concerns about his anti-Western and conservative Islamic views".
But it was unclear whether he engaged with the voluntary scheme, the daily added.
S.Keller--BTB