‘Badly burned gunman’ found dead after crashing car ‘filled with explosives’ into Michigan synagogue
A gunman has been shot dead after ramming a car into a Jewish day care and synagogue in Michigan.
The driver intentionally rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
The ‘badly burned body’ of the suspect was found next to a rifle, police sources said.
The vehicle was seen steering around security bollards, which led to security personnel immediately engaging the driver and opening fire.
The vehicle caught on fire after crashing into the Temple Israel which started filling with smoke.
According to Fox News, only a lightly injured security guard was hurt in the attack before the gunman was shot dead.
Detectives were still working to identify the man and a possible motive for the attack.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard says no one is in custody yet. Smoke could be seen billowing from the synagogue’s roof. Footage from the scene shows dozens of police vehicles surrounding 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.
The president said at a White House event marking Women’s History Month, ‘I want to send our love to the Michigan Jewish community and all of the people’ in the Detroit area.
Trump added, ‘It’s a terrible thing, but it goes on’ and said that authorities would be working to get ‘right down to the bottom of it.’
‘It’s absolutely incredible that things like this happen,’ Trump said without providing further details.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement saying she was also tracking developments.
‘This is heartbreaking,’ the governor said.
‘Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice 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 programs 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.’