Driver dead after vehicle-ramming attack at Michigan synagogue
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All students and staff members at a preschool in Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township were safe, officials said.
What we know about the incident
- A driver rammed a vehicle into a large synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, today and exchanged gunfire with a security guard in an attack that set off fears across the state and the Jewish community.
- The driver was killed and the security guard was injured. Eight first responders were being treated, an area hospital said. All the students and staff members at the temple preschool were uninjured.
- Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the driver breached the facility by driving in through the doors. The car caught fire after "something ignited" inside, and the suspect was found dead in the vehicle. It's unclear exactly what the cause of death was.
- Temple Israel is a Reform synagogue serving a large congregation in Michigan.
FBI to lead investigation
Officials detailed a timeline of events after a driver rammed a vehicle into a synagogue in Michigan. The suspect was killed by a security guard, who was injured.
FBI says attack was a 'targeted act of violence against Jewish community'
The FBI, the lead agency in the investigation, called today’s attack “a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community."
Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the agency’s Detroit field office, said the attack on the temple was a “deeply disturbing and tragic incident.”
Trump calls synagogue attack a 'terrible thing'
Trump said he was fully briefed on the attack and will get “right down to the bottom of it.”
Temple Israel rabbi speaks out after attack
Rabbi Arianna Gordon, director of education at Temple Israel, recounts her experience after a vehicle rammed her synagogue.
Homeland Security Investigations at the scene
Homeland Security Investigations is at the scene of the Michigan synagogue and is "closely monitoring" the situation, Kristi Noem, the outgoing homeland security secretary, said on X.
Photo: Families leave after being reunited outside Temple Israel
Emily Elconin / Getty Images
Law enforcement officers escort families and their children to their vehicles in West Bloomfield today.
Henry Ford Health says it's caring for eight first responders
Henry Ford Health said emergency medicine teams are caring for eight first responders.
The patients are being cared for at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital.
The nature of the injuries and the patients' conditions were not provided.
West Bloomfield police said earlier that there were no reports of injuries and that they didn't transport anyone. Police indicated everyone was treated at the scene.
"Our hearts go out to the community at Temple Israel and anyone who is impacted by this this frightening event. There is absolutely no place for violence in our community," the hospital said.
'Everyone is safe,' Temple Israel says in first statement since attack
All 140 students at Temple Israel's childhood center are accounted for, as well as the teachers and staff members, the synagogue said in a statement on Facebook.
"Everyone is safe," it said.
The synagogue credited its "heroic" security personnel for confronting the gunman, who has yet to be identified, in its first comment since this afternoon's attack. It also expressed gratitude to those at the Shenendoah Country Club for sheltering its students and staff members.
"What incredible neighbors we have," Temple Israel said. "What incredible police force we have."
New York to increase security at religious sites, officials say
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed to increase patrols around religious sites in light of the attack at Temple Israel today.
Hochul described the incident as a "cowardly act of antisemitic violence" on X. She said state police will increase patrols throughout New York.
Mamdani called it a "horrifying" act and offered his thoughts to everyone in the the Temple Israel congregation.
"I am continuing to closely monitor the situation," he wrote on X. "Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD will continue to deploy high-visibility patrols to Jewish religious and cultural institutions across the five boroughs."
Injured security guard is expected to recover
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said a security officer at Temple Israel was injured during today's attack.
He said multiple security officers were at the scene when a driver rammed into the building and struck one of the officers and knocked him unconscious.
The officer, whom Bouchard described as "one of the lead security people," was pulled from the scene by his team and taken to a hospital for treatment.
“That individual should be OK," Bouchard told reporters.
'When things like this happen we deepen our resolve as Jews,' rabbi says
A rabbi at a reform synagogue in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said that while the suspect’s motives remain unclear, the events in West Bloomfield will strengthen the Jewish community’s resolve.
“While this is deeply upsetting and traumatic, regardless if we know anyone in that community or not, when things like this happen, we deepen our resolve as Jews,” said Josh Whinston, of Temple Beth Emeth.
“That is what history has taught us,” he said. “That’s part of why we’ve survived as long as we have.”
Sadly, he added, the incident shows how important security is for the community.
“Thank God they were there,” he said. “It could have been much worse than what it turned out to be.”
D.C. police increasing presence at places of worship across Washington
Police in Washington, D.C., say they are increasing their presence at Jewish institutions and other places of worship across the city.
“MPD is closely monitoring the incident at a synagogue in Michigan. ... Out of an abundance of caution, MPD is increasing our presence at Jewish Institutions and other places of worship," Metropolitan Police said on social media this afternoon.
“We continue to urge the public to remain vigilant. If you See Something, Say Something.”
Nearby lockdowns eased following apparent end to Temple Israel attack
While investigators continue their work at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, other nearby synagogues have been told it's OK to come out of lockdown, officials said.
"We have received word that while there is still a large security presence at Temple Israel, all other Jewish organizations are no longer required to be in lockdown or lockout protocol," according to a statement by the Jewish Federation of Detroit.
"There will continue to be a strong police and security presence throughout the community."
Bomb-sniffing dogs and experts working to clear car for explosives, sheriff says
Bomb technicians and bomb-sniffing dogs are working to search the vehicle that rammed into Temple Israel for any explosive devices, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said.
Something ignited inside the vehicle, but it's unclear exactly what, the sheriff told reporters. The vehicle is still in the synagogue's hallway.
Individual found dead in car after driving into synagogue doors, sheriff says
A suspect breached the Temple Israel facility by driving in through the doors before engaging in gunfire by the security facility, Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard told reporters.
The car caught fire after "something ignited" in the vehicle, Bouchard said. An individual was found dead in the vehicle, but it's unclear exactly what the cause of death was at this time.
"Everything that was supposed to happen, happened," Bouchard said. "Security did their job, and then the responders did theirs."
No children or temple staff were injured in the incident. A member of the security team was hit by the car and went to the hospital for treatment, according to the sheriff.
Trump briefed on synagogue situation, WH press secretary says
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the synagogue "shooting in Michigan," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Photos: Police respond at Temple Israel synagogue
Law enforcement responded to a call at Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, today.
Emily Elconin / Getty Images
Corey Williams / AP
Dave Boucher / Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network
Corey Williams / AP
Suspect is dead, law enforcement sources say
The suspect involved in the apparent vehicle ramming and shooting incident at Temple Israel is dead, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told NBC News.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said investigators are looking into the potential motive and whether anyone else was involved.
Sirens and dozens of emergency vehicles spotted near temple
Dozens of emergency response vehicles were spotted near Temple Israel, according to video shared on Facebook. A crowd of onlookers gathered at a nearby intersection, watching the scene unfold. Sirens could be heard screeching in the background.
FBI and ATF agents helping local law enforcement
Federal agents with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have arrived at the scene to assist local authorities at the synagogue, U.S Attorney Pam Bondi said in a post on X.
"Please pray," Bondi said in the post.
Suspected shooter is not in custody, sheriff says
Police do not have a suspect in custody at the moment, but believe that the individual may be hurt, according to Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
A member of security engaged the suspect "in gunfire" at the scene after the individual came to the temple, Bouchard said. That person is not in custody, but officials are trying to get access to the video to learn more about the situation.
Bouchard noted that they are still trying to determine if anyone else may have been involved.
"It's a work in progress, so that's why we're sheltering in place until we figure it out," Bouchard told reporters. "It's a big facility with a lot of land around it."
No injuries reported yet as children being moved out of the area
There were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities as first responders moved to quickly evacuate children from the synagogue's preschool, authorities said.
"Nobody at the moment has been confirmed to be hurt except potentially the shooter," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters.
"We don't have that person in custody. It's a work in progress, so that's why we're sheltering in place until we figure it out. It's a big facility with a lot of land around it."
He added that there is still a shelter-in-place order for "at least a mile until we determine that there's no one else that maybe was on foot or fled the area."
Temple Israel has large congregation of Reform Jews
Temple Israel of Bloomfield, Michigan, calls itself "the nation’s largest Reform synagogue," accounting for 1% of the entire Reform movement in North America.
About 3,500 families comprise the 12,000-member congregation that was first organized in 1941, according to the temple.
"At Temple Israel, our mission is to be an inclusive congregation that demonstrates respect for the needs of all," according to the synagogue, which is about 40 miles from downtown Detroit. "Our Jewish values embody the teaching that every human being is created in the image of God."
'I'm scared to death for my friends,' synagogue member says
Temple Israel congregation member Lisa Stern stood outside the police perimeter surrounding Temple Israel, anxiously praying for the safety of a friend and other people inside.
"I'm scared to death for my friends," Stern told NBC News affiliate WDIV.
Stern, a member of the synagogue, said she's never seen anything like this as she stood by the large law enforcement presence outside the temple.
She was scared to call anyone she knew, she said, out of worry that cellphone sounds might put lives in danger. Stern hopes that everyone, including the children in the Temple Israel preschool program, is safe.
"This is senseless. It's senseless," Stern said. "We have to be better than this."
Patel says FBI are on scene in an 'apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation'
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents are on scene and responding "to the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation out of Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan." He added that FBI personnel are working with parents in Michigan.
Michigan lawmaker urges people to stay away from scene
Mallory McMorrow, Michigan's Senate majority whip, wrote on X that she was aware of initial reports of the situation at Temple Israel.
"Please stay away from the area and listen to direction from first responders as we wait to learn more," she wrote.
Michigan State Police is aware of 'active shooting incident'
The Michigan State Police said in a post on X that they are "aware of an active shooting incident that is ongoing in West Bloomfield."
"We are asking for community members to stay away from the area to allow for police response," the post says. "Troopers are also increasing patrols at other places of worship in the district."
Local schools are in 'secure mode' amid ongoing situation
Police say that Bloomfield Hills schools are "in secure mode due to an ongoing incident in West Bloomfield."
"This is out of precaution; there are no known threats to Bloomfield Hills schools at this time," the post on X added.
Police are responding to reports of active shooter situation at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield
Farmington Hills Police and West Bloomfield Police confirmed to NBC News that they are currently responding to reports of an active situation at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Police added that they are responding to a fire at the same location. No further details could be provided.
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