A man armed with a rifle rammed a vehicle into the nation’s largest Reform synagogue, in a Detroit suburb, and was fatally shot by security. The vehicle caught on fire after crashing into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township.
Investigators were still working to identify the man and a possible motive for the attack.
Oakland County Sheriff Sheriff Mike Bouchard confirmed during an earlier news conference that security at the synagogue had engaged in gunfire with at least one person, and that no one was in custody.
WDIV-TV reported that a truck had crashed into the synagogue. Smoke could be seen billowing from the synagogue’s roof. Footage from the scene shows dozens of police vehicles surrounding the building.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were on scene of an “apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation” at the synagogue.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s office said authorities are clearing the building. About a dozen parents sprinted to get their children from an early childhood learning center inside the building after getting approval from police. West Bloomfield School District went on lockdown.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement saying she was tracking developments.
“This is heartbreaking,” the governor said. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”
Temple Israel calls itself the nation’s largest Reform synagogue, with 12,000 members, according to its website. It has an early childhood education center and offers educational programs for families and adults.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit advised all Jewish organizations in the area “to go into lockout protocol — nobody in or out of your building.”
? FBI personnel are responding alongside local law enforcement to an apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, federal agents are on scene with partners in Michigan as the incident unfolds.
Armed FBI agents are rushing toward Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, following reports of an active shooter.
?FOX NEWS REPORT: Out of an abundance of caution, the Jewish Federation of Detroit has urged all Jewish organizations nationwide to immediately implement LOCKOUT PROTOCOL
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14 Responses
Building is on fire!
If an Islamic terrorist was responsible for this attack, don’t count on the “mainstream” media to expose that.
One may have to visit sites like Geller Report or Jihad Watch to find out what really happened.
Reform Jews using guns (even if it was probably a non-Jewish security guard)? That is more radical than if they started keeping Shabbos and Kashrus, or believing in a Creator.
12:30 pm – Car Ramming, Suspect Killed
1:30 pm – Other temple activities were to begin
There was no school ( K-12) schedule for today, so less people were around.
It was a miracle that this happened when less people, children were around.
The temple has 12,000 members and is the largest reformed temple in the US,
IY”H may all of the Reform Jews and Conservative Jews do Teshuva and become Torah-observant Orthodox Jews.
why do you call it a synagogue in the article?!?!?!
It’s not a synagogue! Our Gedolim deemed them as non Jews. They aren’t part of us; we serve a different God.
“why do you call it a synagogue in the article?!?!?!”
What’s the problem? Do you feel the use of the Greek word Synagogue is a halachic endorsement? We commonly translate Temple as Mikdash; is that better or worse?
Trashida’s district?
Dead gunman regrets what he did, he didn’t get his 72 virgins as promised.
AmericanChochom, when you write: “Our Gedolim deemed them as non Jews.” you are a complete, unmitigated am ha’aretz. Chazal declared: Yisroel af al pi she’chatu,, Yisroel heim.
Do you think the terrorist cared what kind of Jews were there, or what Rabbonim said?
To the rest of the world this is a Jewish building and he wanted to kill Jews. If he drove into the yeshiva down the block would your reactions be different? Stop arguing over wordings and realize Jews were attacked for being Jewish.
DrYidd, a majority of Reform members, including Reform clergymen, are NOT Jews. Therefore there is no chezkas yisroel on any individual member or clergyman. Anyone coming to Judaism from that community must prove their yichus or be megayer.
Nevertheless, “synagogue” is a correct term to use, just as “church” is a correct term to use for houses of worship from all Xian denominations and sects, regardless of how heretical each regards the others. You may choose to spell it “sinagogue” if you like. It’s just a Greek word for “beis k’nesses”, which just means “gathering house”.
And whether they’re really Jews or not, as far as the terrorist was concerned they were Jews. He attacked them because he thought of them as Jews. He might just as easily have attacked a “messianic synagogue”, which even the Reformers don’t regard as Jewish. To our enemies they too are Jews. Hitler y”sh burned goyim limehadrin, because they had a Jewish grandfather.
akuperma, Reformers have no problem hiring a goyisher security guard. Of course they’d rather he didn’t have icky guns, but they can’t find one who will agree to guard without them so they have to accept it.