All hostages from Texas synagogue are out alive and safe says governor Greg Abbott

After a confrontation inside a Dallas-area synagogue on Saturday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that all hostages were safe. “Prayers answered. All hostages are out alive and safe," Abbott tweeted Saturday night.

Abbott's tweet came shortly after the synagogue was rocked by a loud blast and gunshots were heard. The rescue's details were not immediately available.

According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the remaining three hostages have been released from a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. The hostage-condition takers were not immediately revealed.

According to police, one male hostage was released from Congregation Beth Israel, which is located in a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, shortly after 5 p.m. local time. He was not provided a reason for his release.

The suspected hostage-taker has yet to be identified, nor has a motive been established. According to a source close to the incident, he requested the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman serving an 86-year federal prison sentence for attempting to assassinate US officers in Afghanistan.

President Biden has been briefed on the situation, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Tom Nides, the United States ambassador to Israel, tweeted that he is "closely watching" news of the situation and "prays for an immediate and safe end."