Texas siege: Manchester anti-terror police investigate financing of US trip

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Counter terrorism police investigating the Texas synagogue siege are focusing on who helped to pay for Malik Faisal Akram's trip to the US, the M.E.N.

has learned. Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn, held four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. All four were released without being injured, but Mr Akram was shot and killed by the FBI following the ten-hour siege earlier this month. READ MORE:"Kennie was our cheeky chappy with baby blue eyes": Family pay tribute to 16-year-old fatally stabbed in Stretford UK counter terrorism police, who are assisting US counterparts, have so far arrested five people in connection with the incident, two of them in Manchester.

Four have been released and one remains in police custody. The M.E.N. understands the focus of the Counter Terrorism Policing North West investigation is on the financing of Akram's trip to the US.

He was of limited means and it is suspected he had financial help to travel, a source has told the M.E.N. Despite reportedly having a criminal record, he was able to fly into the US and buy a gun in Texas where he was living in a homeless shelter.