Neighbors witness attack on Temple Israel: 'It's honestly devastating'

Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News on Mar 12, 2026

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West Bloomfield residents who live within walking distance of Temple Israel were shocked Thursday at the violence against their neighbor, but were relieved the damage wasn't worse, though it reflects "the world we live in."

Lanai Thomas, a mom of two kids, ages 7 and 4, lives in a subdivision just east of the synagogue on Walnut Lake Road. Her backyard borders it, and police lights were still visible at the temple late Thursday afternoon.

“It’s honestly devastating,” she said, after shooing her kids away to the other room, saying she “didn’t want them to hear about what happened.”

Thomas was in the side yard of her property when she saw a truck ram through the synagogue's front doors.

“I was right there when it happened,” she said, pointing to her yard. “I don’t understand why they’re targeting children. … I’m glad the children were OK, I’m glad the community was there for them.”

Temple Israel dates back to the 1940s, but built its current campus on Walnut Lake Road in 1980. It has an early childhood center and religious school with roughly 140 students.

John Hrant, who lives in the same subdivision as Thomas, said he’d been working from home all day. He knew what had happened, though, and was just glad his parents weren’t home.

“I went and locked the doors,” he said. “It is scary. … It’s just the world we live in now, anything can happen.”

West Bloomfield Township resident Brian Haaseth can see the synagogue from his house. He said he was glad it locked down so fast and no one got hurt.

“It seems (the police) locked it down fast so no other damage could be done.”