Police officers and firefighters at the scene where a truck was rammed into Temple Israel, a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Mich., March 12, 2026. A driver rammed a truck into a synagogue outside of Detroit on Thursday, the authorities said, exchanging gunfire with security guards and dying in the attack that raised further alarm at a time of rising antisemitism in America.
SARAH RICE
The New York Times
Law enforcement agencies around the Sacramento region said Thursday they increased patrols around places of worship after a man rammed a vehicle into a Michigan synagogue earlier in the day in what the FBI called a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.”
Authorities across the capital region said there were no known threats to Sacramento-area religious sites but said officers were increasing patrols around churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions out of caution.
Officials also said they were closely monitoring national and international developments, including the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.
Michigan attack
The latest incident to grab national headlines occurred Thursday afternoon at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, about 25 miles northwest of Detroit. Authorities said a man drove a vehicle through the synagogue’s doors and down a hallway before being confronted by security guards who opened fire.
The suspect was later found dead inside the vehicle after it caught fire, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
Authorities said the vehicle ignited inside the building, temporarily engulfing parts of the synagogue in flames. Law enforcement officials also said what appeared to be a large quantity of explosives was discovered in the vehicle. One security guard was struck by the vehicle and taken to a hospital but is expected to recover. Bouchard said at least 30 responding officers from multiple agencies were treated for smoke inhalation.
The synagogue houses a preschool and family center, but officials said all 140 students and staff members were accounted for and safe, according to CNN and other media reports.
The FBI said the investigation remained ongoing Thursday evening and described the incident as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. Authorities said the motive remains under investigation.
Sacramento-area police, sheriff’s deputies boost patrols
Following the attack, Sacramento law enforcement agencies said they were increasing patrols around places of worship.
“We are aware of recent incidents targeting places of worship across the country affecting congregations of all faiths,” Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Ed Igoe said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are increasing patrols around churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious sites in our community.”
Igoe said the Sheriff’s Office has also reached out to religious leaders and remains in communication with them.
The Sacramento Police Department also said officers were monitoring developments and increasing patrols around places of worship.
“We are monitoring developing international and national events and remain in communication with our local, state and federal partners,” Officer Allison Smith, a spokesperson for the agency, said.
“We do have additional patrols around these places of worship,” she added.
Similar patrols were underway in other major California cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Capt. Zach Eaton, a spokesperson for the Lincoln Police Department, said his and other agencies across the region encouraged residents to remain alert and contact authorities if they see suspicious activity.
Residents should call 911 “if they feel any need that their safety is in danger,” Eaton said.
California taking ‘posture of preparedness,’ governor says
While authorities said there is no specific threat to the region, officials across California have also been monitoring broader security concerns tied to international tensions.
Authorities also said Thursday there were no credible threats to California linked to reports of a potential Iranian drone strike along the West Coast.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said the agency was aware of the report but that it was not considered credible.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was continuing to coordinate with federal and local agencies to monitor potential threats following the report by ABC News.
“It’s all about a posture of preparedness for the worst-case scenario,” Newsom said.
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Daniel Hunt is a local news editor for The Sacramento Bee; he joined the newspaper in 2013.