A suspected attacker was killed after crashing a vehicle filled with explosives into a synagogue in Michigan on Thursday, sparking a major security response and raising fears of a possible hate-motivated attack.
Authorities said the vehicle rammed into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township before security guards opened fire and killed the suspect. According to Sheriff Michael Bouchard, one security guard was injured during the incident but is expected to recover.
Investigators say the car involved in the attack was registered to a naturalized US citizen believed to be originally from Lebanon and living in Dearborn, Michigan. Authorities haven’t verified if the vehicle’s owner was behind the wheel; the suspect’s identity remains under investigation.
The attack comes at a tense time globally, as the United States and Israel are engaged in military conflict with Iran. Donald Trump reacted to the incident, calling it “incredible that things like that happen.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel strongly condemned the act, stating that antisemitism has no place in the state.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, have joined the investigation while security around Jewish institutions in the region has been increased.