A man who rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue and drove through a hallway on Thursday is dead after he was confronted and shot at by security staff.
Multiple law enforcement sources responded to the incident at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield township, a prosperous suburb in Oakland county about 25 miles north-west of downtown Detroit.
There were no serious casualties among those at the temple, which included a pre-school and family center, according to Michael Bouchard, the Oakland county sheriff. One security guard was injured by the suspect’s vehicle and taken to hospital, he said.
The vehicle caught fire in the hallway, making it difficult for investigators to immediately determine how the suspect died, Bouchard said. A significant amount of explosives were later found in the vehicle, CNN reported.
A woman gathers children as law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue. Photograph: Corey Williams/AP
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Bouchard said the suspect was deceased inside the vehicle, but he was unable to say if he was shot dead by the temple’s security staff, or had taken his own life.
“He breached the building, drove down the hall and and he was engaged by security,” the sheriff said. “It’s hard to say how fast, he was traveling with purpose down the hall from my look at the video.
“We’re through an abundance of caution clearing the vehicle for IEDs or any explosives. We’ve got a significant number of bomb dogs on site.”
People gather near Temple Israel synagogue. Photograph: Corey Williams/AP
Bouchard added that “everybody has been moved out” of a school contained within the synagogue complex. “This is the important thing, no kids, no staff was injured whatsoever,” he said.
“So we want people to take a breath. No one was hurt. We’re on top of it. [The police] chief and his team got here fast. Everything that was supposed to happen, happened. Security did their job, and then the responders did theirs.”
In a post on X, Kash Patel, the FBI director, said: “FBI personnel are on the scene with partners in Michigan and responding to the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation”.
A state bomb squad vehicle was seen heading to the scene, where dozens of police cars were gathered.
Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan’s governor, posted on X that she was “tracking the situation” and her office was working with Michigan state police to get more information.
“This is heartbreaking. Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace. Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan. I am hoping for everyone’s safety,” she wrote.
Local media reports said schools in the vicinity were on lockdown. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the large complex, local TV aerial footage showed.
In a statement provided to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ News, the Jewish Federation of Detroit said: “We are aware of a security incident at Temple Israel. We are advising all Jewish organizations to go into lockout protocol – nobody in or out of your building. More information to follow.”
Michigan Republican congresswoman Lisa McClain posted on X that her office was monitoring the situation.
“If you are in the area, please follow any and all instructions from law enforcement. Avoid the area and stay safe. Our prayers are with those on the ground,” she wrote.
Thursday’s incident has parallels in an attack on a church in Wayne county, Michigan, last summer in which the gunman was hit by a truck driven by a deacon, then shot dead by security staff.
In September, four people were killed in a church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, by a military veteran with a “hatred” for the Mormon religion.