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| US man charged with selling gun used in Texas synagogue siege | US man charged with selling gun used in Texas synagogue siege |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Four people were held hostage at Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on 15 January | Four people were held hostage at Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on 15 January |
| A man who allegedly sold a gun used by a British man to take hostages at a Texas synagogue has been charged with a federal firearms crime. | A man who allegedly sold a gun used by a British man to take hostages at a Texas synagogue has been charged with a federal firearms crime. |
| US authorities say that Henry "Michael" Williams, 32, sold a pistol to Malik Faisal Akram two days before the hostage taking. | |
| Mr Williams has now been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. | |
| Akram was shot and killed when police stormed the synagogue. | Akram was shot and killed when police stormed the synagogue. |
| According to a criminal complaint released by the US Department of Justice on Wednesday, Mr Williams had previously been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance. | According to a criminal complaint released by the US Department of Justice on Wednesday, Mr Williams had previously been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance. |
| On 13 January, he is alleged to have sold Akram a semiautomatic pistol, which authorities say Akram used during the hostage incident at Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on 15 January. | On 13 January, he is alleged to have sold Akram a semiautomatic pistol, which authorities say Akram used during the hostage incident at Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on 15 January. |
| Four people - including the synagogue's rabbi - were held hostage during the 10-hour stand-off with police, which ended when police stormed the synagogue to rescue the hostages and shot Akram dead. | Four people - including the synagogue's rabbi - were held hostage during the 10-hour stand-off with police, which ended when police stormed the synagogue to rescue the hostages and shot Akram dead. |
| An FBI analysis of Akram's phone later found he had exchanged several phone calls with Mr Williams between 11 and 13 January. | An FBI analysis of Akram's phone later found he had exchanged several phone calls with Mr Williams between 11 and 13 January. |
| When interviewed by FBI agents on 16 January, Mr Williams told officers he recalled meeting a man with a British accent but could not remember his name, according to the justice department. | When interviewed by FBI agents on 16 January, Mr Williams told officers he recalled meeting a man with a British accent but could not remember his name, according to the justice department. |
| When interviewed a second time this week, following an arrest for an outstanding state warrant, Mr Williams was shown a photograph of Akram and confirmed that he had sold him the pistol in Dallas. | When interviewed a second time this week, following an arrest for an outstanding state warrant, Mr Williams was shown a photograph of Akram and confirmed that he had sold him the pistol in Dallas. |
| Mr Williams allegedly told officers that Akram said the gun would be used to intimidate someone who had owed him money. | Mr Williams allegedly told officers that Akram said the gun would be used to intimidate someone who had owed him money. |
| "As a convicted felon, Mr Williams was prohibited from carrying, acquiring or selling firearms," US Attorney Chad E Meacham said in a statement. "Whether or not he knew of his buyer's nefarious intent is largely irrelevant - felons cannot have guns, period." | "As a convicted felon, Mr Williams was prohibited from carrying, acquiring or selling firearms," US Attorney Chad E Meacham said in a statement. "Whether or not he knew of his buyer's nefarious intent is largely irrelevant - felons cannot have guns, period." |
| Mr Williams made an initial court appearance at a federal court in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon. A detention hearing has been scheduled for 31 January. | Mr Williams made an initial court appearance at a federal court in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon. A detention hearing has been scheduled for 31 January. |
| On Tuesday, Manchester police announced that two men were taken into custody as part of an investigation into the incident. | On Tuesday, Manchester police announced that two men were taken into custody as part of an investigation into the incident. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Watch as Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker tells CBS Mornings about being held hostage - and how he escaped | Watch as Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker tells CBS Mornings about being held hostage - and how he escaped |