Chicago Police Increase Synagogue Security After Michigan Attack

Authorities say they are closely monitoring places of worship in the area following a targeted assault on a Jewish synagogue.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:37am

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Chicago police say they are 'paying special attention' to places of worship in the area after a man rammed a vehicle through the doors of a Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and exchanged gunfire with security guards. The suspect was believed to be 'deceased in the vehicle,' though authorities have yet to confirm the cause of death. The FBI is calling the incident a 'targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.' In response, the Chicago Police Department says it is 'monitoring the situation' in Michigan and 'paying special attention to places of worship' in the Chicago area, though there is no 'actionable intelligence related to Chicago at this time.'

Why it matters

The attack on the Michigan synagogue is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Jewish places of worship, raising concerns about the safety and security of religious institutions. The Chicago area has a large Jewish population, and authorities are taking precautions to ensure the community can practice their faith without fear of violence.

The details

According to authorities, the suspect rammed a vehicle through the doors of West Bloomfield's Temple Israel synagogue and exchanged gunfire with security guards. The suspect was believed to be 'deceased in the vehicle,' though the cause of death has not been confirmed. No children or staff from the synagogue's early childhood program were injured, though a security guard who was struck by the car and knocked unconscious was hospitalized. About 40 children were given refuge by a nearby homeowner until the threat was cleared.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday morning.

The players

Chicago Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that is increasing security and monitoring the situation at places of worship in the Chicago area.

Temple Israel

The Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, that was the target of the attack.

FBI

The federal law enforcement agency that is investigating the incident as a 'targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.'

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What they’re saying

“Because of work of security team and because of the work of our staff, our children just thought an alarm had gone off and they were playing with their family and friends. When you're trained as a community, this is what happen, [...] we are ready for this. This is the way our life looks like all the time.”

— Rabbi Josh Bennett, of Temple Israel

“It's terrible. I wish I could compose myself to say something more intelligent. It is terrible that the number one thing we have to fund is security. In order to be Jewish, we have to raise dollars to keep everybody safe just so they can be Jewish.”

— Steven Ingber, CEO of Jewish Detroit

“A considerable portion of our budgets, in many cases, just to keep our synagogues safe. And to be hardened targets, quite literally, in terms of the various security measures that are put in place, the surveillance in terms of cameras, and then the armed guards. The four-year-old children in my synagogue have to walk through a gauntlet of guards in order to get into the synagogue.”

— Rabbi Zvi Engel, President of The Rabbinical Council of America and Rabbi of Congregation Or Torah in Skokie

What’s next

The FBI is asking anyone with photos or videos of the incident to submit them on their digital media tip line.

The takeaway

This attack highlights the ongoing security concerns and financial burdens faced by Jewish communities to protect their places of worship, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and support to ensure the safety of all people practicing their faith.