Smoke rises from a synagogue in Michigan on Thursday afternoon (local time).Image: Screenshot CNN
A car intentionally crashed into a synagogue in Michigan on Thursday afternoon (local time), which then caught fire. An armed man was then shot dead by security personnel.
Mar 12, 2026, 6:46 p.mMar 12, 2026, 8:42 p.m
According to CNN, the incident occurred in broad daylight on the grounds of the large Reform synagogue, which also includes a daycare center and a school. The sheriff said that as of now, no bystanders or community members were injured.
Law enforcement officials reported that rescue workers recovered a large amount of explosives in the back of the vehicle.
After the vehicle rammed the building, synagogue security personnel responded immediately. The security guards opened fire and killed the suspect at the scene. Shortly afterwards, a fire broke out in the building, which had to be fought by the fire department.
Rising anti-Semitism
The attack in Michigan is part of a series of attacks on Jewish institutions in the USA. Many synagogues and Jewish schools had already drastically tightened their security measures in advance, which could have prevented something worse in the current case at Temple Israel. The investigation into the perpetrator’s background is ongoing.
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, bills itself as the largest Reform congregation in the United States. Reform Judaism pursues a modern interpretation of Jewish traditions. The congregation moved to its current location in West Bloomfield in 1980. The area covers approximately eight hectares. (val)