Local police say that a suspect died on Friday after crashing a car into a synagogue in the Detroit suburbs. The event took place at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, which is also home to a school and an early childhood center.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard of Oakland County said that the suspect drove the car right into the building before security guards got there. Shortly after the crash, security guards opened fire, killing the suspect on the spot. Officials said that during the incident, a security guard was hit by the car but should be able to heal from his injuries.
Emergency crews responding to the scene discovered what appeared to be a large quantity of explosives in the back of the vehicle. Bomb technicians and investigators were called in to examine the materials and secure the area.
Officials have not yet released the suspect’s identity or possible motive. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement reviews evidence and interviews witnesses.
The attack comes during a period of rising antisemitism worldwide. Jewish institutions across the United States have increased security measures in recent years as threats and attacks against Jewish communities have grown, according to reports from advocacy groups monitoring antisemitism.
