The FBI and local police said at a news conference Saturday night that three hostages who were held in a Colleyville synagogue for nearly 11 hours are unharmed and the hostage-taker is dead after a hostage rescue team breached the building.The suspect was making a demand:
Authorities said the hostage-taker was killed in a shooting....
The man, who police say they have identified but have not named, released one hostage about 5 p.m.
... multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News he was demanding the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui....It's great news that none of the victims were harmed, but some right-wingers are upset -- because of a tweet. The tweet was sent by White House press secretary Jen Psaki as the incident was unfolding:
Siddiqui is incarcerated at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, according to the source. She had alleged ties to al-Qaida and was convicted of assault and attempted murder of a U.S. soldier in 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison.
.@POTUS has been briefed about the developing hostage situation in the Dallas area. He will continue to receive updates from his senior team as the situation develops. Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal law enforcement leadership.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) January 15, 2022
Seems unobjectionable, doesn't it? But to Matt Margolis of PJMedia, it was extremely objectionable:
Did you notice anything interesting about the tweet? It’s a little generic, don’t you think? Something missing, perchance?I suppose Margolis has a point. Here's the text of another tweet Psaki sent, one that also didn't mention the fact that the hostages were Jews in a synagogue and the hostage taker was a Muslim:
“In the Dallas area” ... Really, Jen? Really?
It’s curious that Psaki failed to mention that the hostage situation was in a synagogue, wouldn’t you agree? While details are slim right now, it’s very clear that the hostage-taker is Muslim, and he’s targeted Jewish people in their place of worship. Biden and members of his administration are never at a loss for words when it comes to hate crimes or even gun violence that fits a certain narrative.
Perhaps the tweet wouldn’t have seemed suspiciously devoid of information about who the victims and the perpetrator are if Biden and the Democrats didn’t have a habit of turning a blind eye to the violence that doesn’t fit their preferred narrative. Had it been a white supremacist taking hostages at a black church, I doubt those details would have gone unmentioned.
The Texas Dept. of Public Safety is on the scene of the tense hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas.Oh, wait -- that wasn't a tweet from Jen Psaki. It was from Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas.
They are working with local and federal teams to achieve the best and safest outcome.
I continue to monitor the situation through DPS.
The Texas Dept. of Public Safety is on the scene of the tense hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 15, 2022
They are working with local and federal teams to achieve the best and safest outcome.
I continue to monitor the situation through DPS.@TxDPS https://t.co/bAARmIifdb
Here's more outrage, compiled by Townhall's Rebecca Downs:
Ghastly.
— Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) January 15, 2022
No mention the hostages are Jewish people in a synagogue and the gunman is demanding release of convicted Pakistani terrorist Aafia Siddiqui (whom @lsarsour has been rallying to have released).
Like everything else from this administration, nothing but empty remarks. https://t.co/F9OHbByJXZ
Any other details about where this is occurring, Jen?
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) January 15, 2022
It’s happening at a synagogue. An important detail that I suspect was not inadvertently left out of this tweet.
— Bee Bee (@wes48103) January 15, 2022
Downs also quotes a tweet sent by the local police just before the situation was resolved:
We are currently conducting SWAT operations around the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Rd. All residents in the immediate area are being evacuated. Please avoid the area.
— Colleyville Police (@ColleyvillePD) January 15, 2022
Shouldn't that have been "We are currently conducting SWAT operations around the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Rd, where Jews in a synagogue are being held hostage by an evil satanic Muslim"? Why does the Colleyville Police Department hate the Jewish people and all lovers of freedom?
Folks, Psaki's message was a tweet. Tweets are terse. That's the nature of tweets.
The White House subsequently issued the following statement:
Statement by President Biden on the Hostage Situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, TexasCalm down, right-wingers. Take a long walk. Pet a dog. Everything isn't a deliberate affront to your sensibilities.
Thanks to the courageous work of state, local and federal law enforcement, four Americans who were held hostage at a Texas synagogue will soon be home with their families. I am grateful to the tireless work of law enforcement at all levels who acted cooperatively and fearlessly to rescue the hostages. We are sending love and strength to the members of Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, and the Jewish community.
There is more we will learn in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage taker. But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hate—we will stand against antisemitism and against the rise of extremism in this country. That is who we are, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement made us all proud.
2 comments:
If it comes from a Democrat, from dog catcher to POTUS,rest assured it's offensive to the right. This performance outrage is especially important because the GOP is targeting Jews for their votes.
Well the GOP is targeting Jews for SOMEONE'S votes!
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