Tension prevailed outside the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, just outside Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday after a man armed with a rifle rammed his vehicle into the place of worship. He then drove through the hallway before security opened fire, killing him on the spot.
The peace of one of America’s largest reform synagogues was shattered when the suspect rammed his vehicle through it, followed by gunshots from the security. What added to the chaos was that the vehicle that was used in the attack caught fire, according to an anonymous source who told The Associated Press.
Temple Israel confirmed later through a statement that everyone, including the 140 students in the early childhood learning center, was safe. Unfortunately, a security officer was reportedly hit by the vehicle that crashed into the synagogue and was made unconscious. However, it was confirmed that his injuries were not life-threatening.
The security at synagogues around the world has been heightened in the wake of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28. The identity of the suspect in the Michigan synagogue attack has not been revealed yet. A special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office said that the attack was considered a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.”
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Synagogue Attack: Reaction From the Public
Allison Jacobs, the mother of an 18-month-old girl who visits the day care at Temple Israel, revealed her reaction to the attack. She said:
“There are no words. I was in complete and utter shock. I was hoping that it was a false report. You know, sometimes that can happen.”
She added:
“You never think that this is actually going to happen to you. But I know that it’s — it’s just terrible. This morning I was mourning the loss of the school that got hit in Iran.”
The Orthodox Union, the country’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, released a statement condemning the attack on the synagogue. It read:
“Once again, a house of worship has been shattered by an act of violence intended to kill Jews. … The swift actions of those on the scene helped prevent what could have been a far more tragic outcome.”
“This incident is a stark and frightening reminder that Jewish institutions across the United States continue to face serious and persistent threats, and the escalating hateful rhetoric in the public discourse puts a target on the backs of all Jews.,” [sic]
