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		</div><p>Two men have been arrested in Birmingham and Manchester as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue attack by British hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram.</p>
<p>Akram, 44, originally from Blackburn in Lancashire, was shot dead when the FBI entered the building in Texas on January 15th following a 10-hour stand-off.</p>
<p>Announcing the latest development, Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers from Counter-Terror Policing (CTP) North West continue to support US authorities with their investigation into the events in Texas.</p>
<p>“As a result of this ongoing investigation, two men have been arrested this morning in Birmingham and Manchester.</p>
<p>“They remain in custody for questioning.</p>
<p>“CTP North West officers continue to liaise with and support colleagues from other forces.</p>
<p>“Communities defeat terrorism and the help and support we get from the public is a vital part of that.</p>
<p>“So, we would urge everyone to remain vigilant, and if you do see anything suspicious then please report it, in confidence, to police via the anti-terrorist hotline or gov.uk/ACT</p>
<p>“It won’t ruin lives, but it may well save them.”</p>
<p>Two teenagers arrested in Manchester following the incident were released without charge on Tuesday.<br />
The hostages were released unharmed while US president Joe Biden branded the incident “an act of terror”.</p>
<p>Audio footage appeared to show a tense final conversation between Akram and his younger brother Gulbar, in which the armed 44-year-old was urged to surrender by his sibling.</p>
<p>The recording, obtained by the Jewish Chronicle from a security source, features Gulbar pleading with his brother to stop.</p>
<p>He said: “Why are you doing that, man? What you doing that for, you know? What’s wrong with you?”</p>
<p>Akram’s replies include his request to die a martyr, as well as some expletive-laden and rambling attempts to justify his actions.</p>
<p>Gulbar, still trying to reason with the hostage-taker, said: “Why have you come to die for? Why though?</p>
<p>“Come on, man.</p>
<p>“You don’t need to do this, whatever you’re doing, man.</p>
<p>“Just pack it in, you’ll get a bit of time, and you’ll come out.</p>
<p>“Think about your kids, man, these guys are innocent – these guys you’ve got there are innocent people, man.”</p>
<p>Akram was investigated by MI5 in 2020 but deemed not to be a credible threat to national security at the time, official sources confirmed to the PA news agency.</p>
<p>It is not yet clear how Akram, who had a criminal record in the UK, was able to travel to the US two weeks ago. US officials believe Akram had a visa, arrived at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and bought the handgun used in the incident.</p>
<p>According to reports, he stayed at a homeless shelter and is believed to have bought a gun on the street before taking four people hostage at the synagogue, one of whom was released after around six hours.</p>
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