Two separate deadly attacks struck American communities Thursday, as violence erupted at both a Virginia university and a Michigan synagogue in what authorities are investigating as targeted acts of extremism.
At Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, a gunman with ties to ISIS opened fire in a classroom, fatally shooting one person and wounding two others before Reserve Officer Training Corps students tackled and killed him. The FBI has launched a terrorism investigation into the shooting.
Hours later in West Bloomfield, Michigan, an attacker drove his truck directly into Temple Israel and its preschool facility before being killed by security personnel. While all 140 children at the daycare were safely evacuated, 30 law enforcement officers required hospitalization due to smoke inhalation from a fire that broke out when the vehicle crashed into the building.
The Virginia shooter has been identified as Mohamed Jalloh, who served federal prison time after pleading guilty in 2016 to supporting ISIS and was released in 2024. FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans reported that Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar” before beginning his attack on the university campus, which has strong military connections and a student population that is nearly one-third service members.
“All three victims were affiliated with the university,” Evans stated, noting that two of those wounded were Army personnel.
At the Michigan synagogue, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard praised the rapid response of trained security staff for preventing greater casualties. One security guard was temporarily knocked unconscious after being struck by the attacker’s vehicle.
“What happens around the world sometimes affects us, so we have to prepare for it,” Bouchard explained to reporters, though he said investigators are still working to establish the exact motivation behind the synagogue attack.
The FBI is treating the Michigan incident as what Special Agent Jennifer Runyan described as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.” The attacker, whose identity has not been released, drove his truck through the synagogue’s entrance and continued down an interior hallway before being confronted by security.
These attacks come during a period of escalating tensions following recent military strikes between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran, which have heightened security concerns for both Jewish and Muslim communities across America.
According to FBI statistics, antisemitic incidents have surged in recent years, representing nearly two-thirds of more than 5,300 religiously motivated hate crimes recorded since February 2024.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to Thursday’s synagogue attack with a statement emphasizing unity: “Antisemitism has no place in Michigan and cannot be tolerated. In moments like these, it’s more important than ever that we come together, stand with our neighbors, confront hate whenever it appears, and build stronger communities.”
President Donald Trump addressed the Michigan attack Thursday evening, saying he had been briefed on the situation. “I want to send our love to the Michigan Jewish community and all of the people in the Detroit area following the attack on the Jewish synagogue earlier today,” Trump stated.
Both Jewish and Islamic organizations nationwide have implemented enhanced security protocols since the U.S. and Israel began their military operations against Iran on February 28.
Sheriff Bouchard told CNN that law enforcement had been anticipating potential violence for weeks. “We’ve been talking for two weeks about the potential, sadly, of this happening. So there was no lack of preparation,” he said, adding that Jewish facilities throughout the region will receive increased police presence.
The nation has experienced multiple security incidents since the current conflict began, including airport scares in Kansas City and the Washington area, plus the arrest of two individuals who allegedly detonated homemade explosives during an anti-Islam demonstration outside New York City’s Gracie Mansion. Police reported that those suspects claimed inspiration from the Islamic State.
