A man armed with a rifle rammed a vehicle into the largest Reform synagogue in the US and was fatally shot by security staff, its has been revealed.
The vehicle caught fire, it was reported, after crashing into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, a source told the Associated Press.
Investigators were still working to identify the man and a possible motive for the attack. The source cautioned that the investigation is still in the early stages.
No one else was reported injured in the attack on the place of worship near Detroit.
Oakland County sheriff Mike Bouchard confirmed during an earlier news conference that security at the synagogue had engaged in gunfire with at least one person, and that no one was in custody.
TV station WDIV-TV reported that a truck had crashed into the synagogue. Smoke could be seen billowing from the synagogue’s roof. Footage from the scene shows dozens of police vehicles surrounding the building.
FBI director Kash Patel said agents were on scene of an “apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation” at the synagogue.
The Oakland County sheriff’s office said authorities were clearing the building.
About a dozen parents sprinted to get their children from an early childhood learning centre inside the building after getting approval from police.
West Bloomfield School District went on lockdown.
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement saying she was tracking developments.
“This is heartbreaking,” the governor said. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practise their faith in peace.”
Temple Israel calls itself the nation’s largest Reform synagogue, with 12,000 members, according to its website.
It has an early childhood education centre and offers educational programmes for families and adults.
The website says the synagogue is “passionate about helping Jewish communities across the globe” and that its mission is to “create a community building through the lens of Reform Judaism”.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit advised all Jewish organisations in the area “to go into lockout protocol – nobody in or out of your building.”