Washington ― President Donald Trump said Thursday he was sending his love to the Jewish community in Michigan following the attack on a West Bloomfield Township synagogue earlier in the day.
“It’s a terrible thing, but it goes on. We’re going to be right down to the bottom of it,” Trump said at an event at the White House recognizing Women’s History Month. “It’s absolutely incredible that things like this happen.”
Trump said he’d been fully briefed on the incident in which an armed suspect was killed Thursday after ramming a vehicle into Temple Israel, a large synagogue in Oakland County, and exchanging gunfire with security officials, authorities said.
“Tragic, tragic,” Trump said when asked by reporters at the White House about the attack.
No congregants, children, or staff inside the building were injured during the incident, which prompted an active‑shooter response and lockdowns across the area.
Just before 1 p.m. Thursday, a driver rammed a truck into Temple Israel at 5725 Walnut Lake Road, west of Orchard Lake Road and east of Drake, and got out and opened fire on the temple. The shooter is dead, a source who had been briefed on the investigation told The Detroit News.
Temple Israel leaders react to attack
The attack in West Bloomfield is among a number of violent incidents targeting synagogues in North America. In Toronto alone, three synagogues have been hit by gunfire this month, according to authorities there.
Leaders of Temple Israel said later Thursday that all children, staff and congregants were safe.
“We are deeply and humbly grateful to our teachers, staff, security, law enforcement, and Shenendoah Country Club that welcomed us, fed us, and sheltered our staff, teachers, children, and parents,” a Temple Israel statement said. “What incredible neighbors we have. What incredible police force we have.”
More on this developing story
mburke@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Trump vows to get to bottom of Temple Israel synagogue shooting
Reporting by Melissa Nann Burke, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
