A Texas SWAT team responded Saturday afternoon to a hostage situation at a synagogue near Dallas.The Colleyville Police Department said on Twitter that they are conducting SWAT operations “around the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Rd.”All residents in the immediate area of the incident are being evacuated, according to the tweet.The Congregation Beth Israel’s address is 6100 Pleasant Run Rd.
Congregation Beth Israel. (Credit: Google Maps)
((Credit: Google Maps))The police department posted an additional update at 1:20 p.m. stating that the situation is ongoing and advised individuals to avoid the area. The congregation had a Facebook livestream on its Facebook page for a service that had started three hours prior. The livestream has since been disabled.Before the live stream was disabled, a man could be heard repeatedly saying “I will die.””I’m going to die at the end of this, alright?. Are you listening? I am going to die. Okay? So don’t cry for me.”Earlier, in the live stream, the man, who was not visible, could be heard in what appeared to be a discussion with negotiators about “releasing” the people inside. Charlie Cytron-Walker is the rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel, and has been in his position since 2006, according to the congregation’s website.The synagogue describes itself as an “intimate, vibrant, growing Reform Jewish congregation that has a lot to offer in terms of religious, social, and educational opportunities for the youngest to our oldest members.”A White House official told Fox News that they are “closely monitoring” the situation.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides tweeted about the incident, writing, “I am closely monitoring reports of the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Texas, where the community is gathered for Shabbat services. Praying for an immediate and safe end.”Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also tweeted about the incident, stating “I am closely monitoring the hostage situation taking place in Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. We pray for the safety of the hostages and rescuers.”Fox News’ Pat Ward contributed to this report