A shooter rammed a vehicle into a Reform Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, on Thursday before opening fire at the scene.

Michigan police, in a statement on X, said the attack took place at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday at 5725 Walnut Lake Road (Temple Israel).

“The Michigan State Police is aware of an active shooting incident that is ongoing in West Bloomfield,” the statement said, warning community members to stay away from the area to allow for police response.

The suspected shooter has reportedly been neutralised by security agents at the incident venue.

Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan’s governor, in a statement on X, condemned the attack and thanked “law enforcement for their swift action”.

“I am tracking reports of an active shooting at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. We are working with Michigan State Police to get more information,” Mrs Whitmer said. “This is heartbreaking. Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace. Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan. I am hoping for everyone’s safety.”

FBI Czar, Kashmir Patel, in a statement, said, “FBI personnel are on the scene with partners in Michigan and responding to the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation out of Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.”

Meanwhile, the suspect has been identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“He was born in Lebanon on January 4, 1985. He entered the United States on May 10, 2011, at Detroit Metropolitan International Airport on an IR1 immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen after alien relative and fiancé petitions filed in December 2009 were approved in April 2010.

“He applied for naturalisation on October 20, 2015 and was granted U.S. citizenship on February 5, 2016, under the Obama administration,” said the DHS.