Suspect drives truck into Michigan synagogue, opens fire

Police responded to a Detroit-area synagogue on Thursday after investigators say an active shooter drove a truck through the building’s front doors and opened fire on security guards. One security guard suffered injuries when he was hit by the truck, but no additional Temple Israel staff or students were injured in the attack, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a preliminary update.

Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, on Thursday evening characterized the crime as targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents were on scene, and Attorney General Pamela Bondi called for prayer in a separate statement. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state Attorney General Dana Nessel released separate statements condemning anti-Semitism within the state.

What exactly happened? The attacker drove a truck into the synagogue’s front doors, ramming into a security officer and traveling down the hall, Bouchard said. A separate officer engaged in gunfire with the suspect. Officials believe the driver is dead inside the vehicle, but the suspect’s cause of death had not officially been determined as of Thursday afternoon.

Officials called in the bomb squad after something ignited inside the attacker’s car parked inside the building. Authorities were in the process of clearing the vehicle of improvised explosive devices or other incendiary devices, Bouchard said Thursday afternoon. Circulating footage of the active scene showed columns of dark smoke escaping from several points of the building.

Authorities continued to search the synagogue’s building and extensive grounds for any possible accomplices Thursday. They also ordered residents to shelter in place. Bouchard reiterated that everyone inside the building was unarmed, and the one injured security officer was being treated and expected to make a full recovery.

Dig deeper: Read Stephen Kloosterman’s report on the FBI arresting a Mississippi 19-year-old for burning a synagogue.