The family of a 44-year-old man who was killed by police in Texas have asked how he was allowed into America despite a long criminal record.

Faisal Akram, from Blackburn was shot dead when the FBI entered the building in Texas on Saturday night.

One hostage who had been held was released during the hours-long stand-off and three others got out at about 9pm local time.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced that officers from Counter Terror Policing North West had made two arrests in south Manchester on Sunday evening.

They said the teenagers, whose ages and genders they did not immediately confirm, remain in custody for questioning. GMP said police forces in the region are liaising with local communities to put in place any measures to provide further reassurance.

The four hostages held at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas were unharmed.

Akram is said to have demanded the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted of trying to kill US army officers in Afghanistan, and is in prison in Texas.

Akram’s family said they were “absolutely devastated” by what had happened and “do not condone any of his actions”, according to a statement.

The statement, attributed to his brother Gulbar who said he had been involved in negotiating from the UK with his sibling during the ordeal, added that the hostage-taker “was suffering from mental health issues”.

Speaking to Sky News Gulbar also added: 'He's known to police. Got a criminal record. How was he allowed to get a visa and acquire a gun?'.

Earlier a statement attributed to Gulbar read: “It is with great great sadness I will confirm my brother Faisal passed away in Texas, USA this morning.

“We are absolutely devastated as a family. We can’t say much now as their is an ongoing FBI investigation.

“We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologise wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident.

“Sitting in the incident room all last night at Greenbank until the early hours liaising with Faisal, the negotiators, FBI. And although my brother was suffering from mental health issues we were confident that he would not harm the hostages.

“At around 3am the first person was released then an hour later he released the other three people through the fire door unharmed.” The statement says the hostages were released unharmed and not rescued.

Everything we know about Blackburn man's Texan 'act of terror'

It further added: “A few minutes later a firefight has taken place and he was shot and killed. There was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender.

"The FBI are due to fly into the UK later today so we don’t have much else to share at the moment. Obviously, our priority will be to get him back to the UK for his funeral prayers although we have been warned it could take weeks.

“We would also like to add that any attack on any human being be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim is wrong and should always be condemned.” The statement ends with the family asking for privacy.