Police surround synagogue in Michigan after suspected gunman broke into the premises

Smoke rising from synagogue in Michigan as police respond to report of active shooter WXYZ via REUTERS Police surrounded a synagogue in Michigan, United States, after a vehicle apparently crashed into the building and witnesses reported hearing gunshots, this Thursday (12). In a post on social media site X, Michigan State Police said they received a report of a “shooting in progress in West Bloomfield” at 12:30 p.m. “We ask residents to stay away from the area to allow for the police response. Police officers are also reinforcing patrols at other places of worship in the district,” the police said in a statement. Aerial images of the scene, broadcast by the local press, show that a vehicle collided with one of the walls of the building and smoke coming out of the roof. Also at Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard’s office said authorities were evacuating the building and gave more details about what happened when speaking to WDIV-TV. He also stated that there are no reports of possible injuries and that agents have not yet managed to arrest the shooter. “Apparently, at least one individual went to the temple, security saw him and there was an exchange of gunfire. At this time, we are not receiving any signs of activity at the site. We have everything we need here, including paramedics and tactical equipment. We are checking to see if more than one person was involved. So far, there is no confirmation that anyone was injured, except possibly the shooter,” he stated. According to the Associated Press news agency, about a dozen parents rushed to pick up their children from a daycare center inside the building after receiving permission from police, and the West Bloomfield school district went into lockdown. The place where the incident occurred is called Temple Israel and bills itself as the largest Reform synagogue in the country, with 12,000 members, according to its website. It has an early childhood education center and offers educational programs for families and adults. The Jewish Federation of Detroit advised all Jewish organizations in the area to “adopt lockdown protocol — no one can enter or leave the building.” This report is being updated.

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