Michigan synagogue guard injured; children and staff all safe with everyone accounted for, police say

Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.

US law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue on March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
US law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue on March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)

A security guard at the Michigan synagogue attack was wounded, but children and staff there are unscathed, says the sheriff of the Oakland County police, Michael Bouchard.

The attacker “came to the facility, breached the facility by driving into it, was engaged by security.”

He drove a truck through the building’s doors, “drove down the hall,” and “security did engage the suspect with gunfire,” he says. The vehicle is inside the building, he says.

It is unclear how the attacker was killed.

“We believe there is one individual deceased in the vehicle. It’s been complicated because there was some fire, to say the least, with that vehicle. We believe that individual is deceased,” he says. First responders had to enter the hallway with gas masks due to smoke.

“No kids or no staff was injured whatsoever, so we have no victims other than one of the lead security people, who was hit by the car and was taken to the hospital for treatment. That individual should be okay,” he says.

Other security guards pulled the injured member from the scene.

Everyone in the building appears to be accounted for. Law enforcement is sweeping the area for potential explosives.

“We want to ensure the community, there doesn’t appear to be anything active,” he says.

Bouchard says the information is all preliminary and subject to change.

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