Law enforcement authorities were responding to an apparent attack Thursday afternoon at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, a Jewish synagogue that also houses an early childhood learning center.
Sheriff Mike Bouchard said in an interview from the scene that police believe nobody has been injured, “aside from possibly the shooter,” and officers are working to determine whether more than one attacker was involved.
WDIV-TV in Detroit reported the suspected attacker was killed.
The Temple Israel learning center has been emptied, Bouchard said Thursday afternoon, telling parents looking to reunite with their children to pick them up at the Jewish Community Center, 6600 W Maple Rd, West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322.
Bouchard said at least one person “came to the temple, security saw him, engaged him in gunfire.” He added that “a vehicle was involved,” alluding to earlier reports that a truck had crashed into the building, causing a fire.
People within a mile of the scene should remain sheltered in place, Bouchard said, “until we determine that there’s no-one else.” He said police officials are working to access security video from the scene.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that federal personnel were on the scene at Temple Israel after what he called an “apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation.”
At least 80 police cars from surrounding municipalities responded as well, lining Walnut Lake Road for about one mile. The temple is about a half-mile from the West Bloomfield Police Department.
A text alert sent out to some area residents at around 12:40 p.m. indicated there was an “active shooter” at the West Bloomfield temple and advised all local schools and houses of worship to shelter in place.
As of Thursday afternoon, police had surrounded the building. Parents who were waiting to pick up children from the learning center were able to reunite with them across the street at Shenandoah Country Club around 1:20 p.m.
Bridge Michigan reporters were not immediately able to access the scene due to police blockades, but aerial video from WDIV showed adults jumping over a fence and running through a playground to get into the building as smoke poured from the roof.
A motive for the apparent attack is not yet known.
Temple Israel is known as one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States, serving about 3,400 families.
Thursday’s apparent attack unfolded amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where the US and Israel are battling Iran. It comes roughly five months after a fatal attack at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc.
