West Bloomfield: A man armed with a rifle was fatally shot by security personnel Thursday after he rammed a vehicle into a Michigan synagogue, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press.

The incident occurred at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, which identifies itself as the largest Reform congregation in the United States. While the person confirmed the suspect's death, they remained anonymous as they were not authorised to discuss the active investigation publicly.

Authorities reported that no other injuries resulted from the assault.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard previously confirmed that the synagogue’s security team exchanged gunfire with at least one individual. Local station WDIV-TV reported that a truck had been driven into the structure, and footage from the scene showed smoke rising from the roof as a massive police presence established a perimeter around the building.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that federal agents were on-site to address what he described as an "apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation."

The violence prompted an immediate security response across the region. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office spent the afternoon clearing the facility, while the West Bloomfield School District was placed on lockdown. Approximately a dozen parents were seen rushing to the synagogue’s early childhood learning centre to retrieve their children after receiving police clearance.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement confirming she was monitoring the situation.

“This is heartbreaking,” the governor said. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”

Temple Israel serves approximately 12,000 members and operates various educational programs for families and adults. According to its website, the institution is "passionate about helping Jewish communities across the globe" and aims to "create a community building through the lens of Reform Judaism."

In response to the attack, the Jewish Federation of Detroit instructed all local Jewish organisations to initiate a "lockout protocol," effectively barring entry or exit for all personnel and visitors.

With inputs from AP