Detectives have been given extra time to question two men as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue attack by British hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram.

       The two men who were arrested on Thursday in Birmingham and Manchester remain in custody and officers have been granted an extension of custody to continue to question them further, Greater Manchester Police said.

       It comes after Akram, 44, who was originally from Blackburn in Lancashire, was shot dead when the FBI entered the place of worship in Texas on January 15 following a 10-hour stand-off.

       Akram held people hostage during the incident but they were later released unharmed.

       President Joe Biden said it was ‘an act of terror’ (Patrick Semansky/AP/PA)

       (AP)

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       FBI director Christopher Wray called the stand-off an antisemitic incident, while US President Joe Biden said it was “an act of terror”.

       Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) said they are continuing with their investigation following the events in Texas and are working closely with and supporting US law enforcement, the force added.

       A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: “We continue to work closely with colleagues from other forces.

       “Communities defeat terrorism, and the help and support we get from the public is a vital part of that. 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. It won’t ruin lives, but it may well save them.”

       Akram is believed to have had a previous criminal record before the siege on Sunday.

       Born in 1977, his criminal history is understood to date back to 1995 when he would have been about 18 years old.

       Locals arrive for a healing service for Congregation Beth Israel following the stand-off in Colleyville, Texas (Yffy Yossifor/AP/PA)

       (AP)

       After that he spent time in and out of jail, first in 1996 for violent disorder.

       Akram was issued with an exclusion order from Blackburn Magistrates’ Court in 2001, banning him from going near the building, sources previously told the PA news agency.

       The order came as a result of his behaviour in an incident on the day after the September 11 terror attacks in the US, during which he reportedly shouted abuse at court staff.

       Akram was investigated by MI5 in 2020 but deemed not to be a credible threat to national security at the time, official sources previously confirmed to PA.

       It is not yet clear how Akram was able to travel to the US two weeks ago despite his UK criminal record.

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       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.

       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.