Counter-terrorism officers from Greater Manchester Police have arrested two more men in connection with the Texas synagogue attack carried out by Malik Faisal Akram.

#UPDATE | Counter Terrorism Policing North West update following the events in Texas: pic.twitter.com/QDZraZWLSf

— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) January 26, 2022

In a statement, the police said: "Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West are continuing with their investigation following the events in Texas, they are working closely with and are supporting US law enforcement.

"As part of the local investigation, two men have been arrested this morning in Manchester. They remain in custody for questioning.

"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. "

US law enforcement agents are leading the investigation across the UK into Mr. Akram and collaborating closely with UK police forces.

Last week, Officers from Counter Terror Policing North West arrested four men including two teenagers in South Manchester.

It was also revealed that MI5 had placed Malik Faisal Akram under investigation as a potential Islamist terror threat in 2020.

The intelligence investigation into Akram was closed in the second half of that year and concluded that Mr. Akram did not pose a significant threat and he was marked as a “closed subject of interest” in police files. 

UK authorities subsequently did not pass any information to their US counterparts, allowing Akram to enter the US and make his way to Texas where he held a synagogue congregation hostage for 11 hours during their Shabbat services last week.