Coleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said the gunman had died, but authorities declined to confirm the cause of death.

The FBI also said he had been identified but would not disclose it. The incident was first reported on Saturday at 10:41 a.m. (16:41 GMT) local time during the Shabbat service, which was being broadcast online. Police deployed SWAT teams and evacuated residents.

Katie Chaumont, spokeswoman for FBI Dallas, had said an FBI SWAT team was at the scene and that crisis negotiators had been communicating with someone inside the synagogue. But she could not say whether the person was armed, and she had declined to describe what the person said to authorities.

The Associated Press news agency was told by law enforcement earlier in the day the gunman had initially taken four people hostage. They spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation.

One of the officials said the synagogue’s rabbi was believed to be among the hostages. One hostage was released unharmed six hours later.

The hostage-taker was heard demanding the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, who was sentenced to 86 years in prison in 2010 on charges that she shot US troops after being detained in Afghanistan, officials said.

The sentence sparked outrage among Pakistan’s political leaders and their supporters, who saw her as a victim of the US criminal justice system. Siddiqui is in federal prison in Texas. Authorities told the AP that the hostage-taker also said he wanted to be able to talk to Siddiqui.

According to ABC News, the hostage taker claimed to be Siddiqui’s brother.

During the congregation’s services that were being Livestreamed, a man could be heard repeatedly saying he did not want to see anyone hurt and that he believed he was going to die, according to Forth Worth Star Telegram. A listener of the livestream says he heard the man saying he wanted to talk to his “sister”.

But reports of the involvement of Afia Siddiqui’s brother have been diputed by the executive director of the Council On American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Faizan Syed, who said that Siddiqui’s brother, Mohammad Siddiqui, was not involved. According to AP, Syed said CAIR’s support and prayers were with the people being held in the synagogue.

Meanwhile White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Saturday evening that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the “developing hostage situation” and was receiving updates from senior officials.

A Jewish advocacy group, the anti defamation league said it was aware of the standoff, and CAIR issued a statement condemning the man’s actions.

While CAIR issued a statement condemning the act saying, “This latest antisemitic attack on Jewish Americans worshipping at a synagogue is an act of pure evil, we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, and we pray that law enforcement authorities are able to swiftly and safely free the hostages. No cause can justify or excuse this crime.”

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