An armed attacker drove a vehicle into Temple Israel, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the United States, before being fatally shot by security during the incident, reports AP News.
The attack took place on Thursday in West Bloomfield Township, a suburb of Detroit. According to officials, the suspect rammed his vehicle into the synagogue building, crashing through a hallway before the car caught fire.
Authorities said the attacker was armed with a rifle. Security personnel at the synagogue opened fire during the incident, killing the suspect.
The synagogue confirmed that all individuals inside the building were safe, including approximately 140 children attending the early childhood education centre at the time of the attack. One security officer was struck by the vehicle and briefly knocked unconscious, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation. Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, described the event as a “deeply disturbing and tragic incident” and said it was being treated as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.”
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said investigators were still working to determine the attacker’s identity and motive.
Temple Israel, founded in 1941 and relocated to West Bloomfield in the 1980s, is among the largest congregations in the Union for Reform Judaism, with roughly 12,000 members.
Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said the attack underscored the difficult reality that Jewish institutions increasingly operate under heightened security.
“I’d love to say that I’m shocked, that I’m surprised, but I’m not,” Ingber said. “We’ll get through this stronger and will continue to be loud and proud of being Jewish.”
Ted Deutch, chief executive of the American Jewish Committee, said the attack reflected a broader trend in which Jewish institutions across the United States must rely on security measures to protect their communities.
“We’re not asking for special treatment,” Deutch said. “We’re asking for something simple: that people everywhere stand up, clearly and unequivocally, and say that this violent hatred will no longer be tolerated.”
Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s identity or confirmed a motive as the investigation continues.
Photo credit: Corey Williams
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