Gunman rams vehicle into Michigan synagogue before being killed |
An unidentified armed assailant rammed his pickup truck into a synagogue near Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, plowing through the building’s doors before being fired upon by the building’s security guards.
Security guards opened fire on the attacker at the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters.
The attacker was armed with a rifle, AP reported, although it was unclear if he had fired the weapon.
“He breached the building, drove down the hall, and he was engaged by security,” Bouchard said. “We can’t say what killed him at this point, but security did engage the suspect with gunfire.”
His motivation remained unclear, police said.
One of the guards was wounded by the vehicle and was expected to recover, and there were no injuries to congregants.
The synagogue says it is the largest Reform congregation in the US with more than 3,000 families.
“We believe there is one individual deceased in the vehicle. It’s been complicated because there was some fire, to say the least, with that vehicle. We believe that individual is deceased,” Bouchard said.
“No kids or no staff [were] injured whatsoever, so we have no victims other than one of the lead security people [who] was hit by the car and was taken to the hospital for treatment. That individual should be okay,” he said.
Other security guards pulled the injured member from the scene.
Everyone in the building appeared to be accounted for. Law enforcement was sweeping the area for potential explosives. First responders had to wear gas masks in the building due to smoke.
Schoolchildren who were at the synagogue had been relocated to a local Jewish Community Center for reunification with their parents, Bouchard said.
“We want to ensure the community, there doesn’t appear to be anything active,” Bouchard said, adding that the information was all preliminary and subject to change.
The synagogue later said in a statement that “everyone is safe,” including 140 children from its learning center, and thanked the congregation’s “heroic security personnel.”
“Temple Israel was the victim of a terrorist gunman who was confronted and neutralized by our security personnel who are truly heroes. Our teachers followed their training and kept the children safe and calm,” the statement said. “We wanted you to know we are safe, and we love you all.”
Jewish communities have invested heavily in security in recent years due to antisemitic threats, and many have heightened their state of alert amid fears Iran will seek to retaliate for the ongoing Israeli-American military campaign against the regime with attacks on Jewish targets around the world.
The FBI’s office in Detroit led an active shooter prevention training for clergy and staff at the synagogue in late January.
Bouchard said local law enforcement had been preparing for a potential attack against Jews for weeks.
Local and federal law enforcement, including the FBI, were at the scene.
Jewish community security groups said they were seeking information and coordinating with law enforcement.
Law enforcement agencies instructed the public to stay away from the area.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit said that Jewish community lockdowns were lifted several hours after the incident.
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