'The aftermath is just devastating': Temple Israel rebuilds after terror attack

"“The ceiling was falling in,” she recalled. “I looked to my left and saw a gun. And heard, 'get in your room.'” Security at Temple Israel was responding to a gunman in a truck that burst through the building, an attack the FBI would later characterize as a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism targeting the largest synagogue in Michigan."

"Second nature kicked in for Otis, who said just weeks prior, staff had done routine security training. She locked the bulletproof glass doors, pulled the blinds, moved all the children behind changing tables and grabbed Cheerios and an iPad so they could watch Elmo. “They were so good,” she told NPR in an interview. “They didn't cry as long as the Cheerios were flowing.”"

"Otis then heard gunshots, so many she thought there were multiple shooters running through the building. “The only thought I had was, I'm going to die. So if he or they come in, I'm going to lay on the babies, because I'm going to die regardless,” she said, voice cracking. “I was more scared that they were going to die.” After 45 minutes, she evacuated with kids in tow as police in tactical gear stormed in."

"Normally, an unknown truck sitting in the parking lot at Temple Israel would raise red flags, but the attacker came on a Thursday, one of the two days each month where the synagogue holds a food pantry that feeds 250 families across metro Detroit. He had filled his truck with 35 gallons of gasoline in an effort to enhance the power of fireworks stuffed inside. He was armed with an AR-style rifle"

A gunman drove a truck through Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, triggering an attack later characterized as Hezbollah-inspired terrorism targeting the largest synagogue in Michigan. A toddler-room lead teacher heard a loud bang, saw a gun, and was told to get into her room. She immediately followed security training by locking bulletproof glass doors, pulling blinds, moving children behind changing tables, and keeping them calm with Cheerios and an iPad. Gunshots followed, leading her to fear for her own life and especially for the children. After about 45 minutes, she evacuated with the children as police arrived. The attack occurred on a Thursday during a food pantry day serving 250 families.

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