US rejected first visa for Texas synagogue terrorist

THE Texas synagogue terrorist had his US visa application rejected months before he travelled to the country from Britain, his brother has claimed.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, flew to the US between Christmas and New Year before the attack on Jan 16, in which he took four people hostage, despite having been investigated by MI5.

His brother, Gulbar, said his sibling had a visa application rejected before a successful attempt a few months later.

The claims will raise further questions over how Akram was able to enter the US, on what is believed to be a tourist visa, despite his prolific offending.

His criminal history dates back to 1996 when he was jailed for violent disorder. Gulbar, 43, said Akram, a father of six, who was wearing a prayer hat and had a beard in his passport picture, was clean shaven when he flew to the US.

“[He] got stopped at immigration at JFK with a big beard on his passport and no beard [in person], got questioned and given the thumbs up,” he said.

Gulbar said it was “mind boggling” that someone with his brother’s history did not come under more scrutiny.

He said: “In his second application [made] within a year, clearly the computer would have shown when and why he was refused but on this occasion they’ve decided to completely ignore everything and grant a visa anyway.”

A Bureau of Consular Affairs spokesman said records were confidential.

Akram was shot dead after the FBI stormed the Beth Israel Congregation Synagogue.