A gunman who drove his vehicle into synagogues in Michigan, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the US, has been identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized citizen born in Lebanon, the Associated Press reported, citing federal officials.
The FBI is considering it a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community,” Special Agent Jennifer Runyan said at a news conference. She described the incident as “deeply disturbing and tragic.”
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Who was Ayman Mohamad Ghazali?
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali was a 41-year-old naturalized US citizen born in Lebanon.
Ghazali came to the U.S. in 2011 on an immigrant visa as the wife of a U.S. citizen and was granted U.S. citizenship in 2016, the AP reported, citing the Department of Homeland Security.
Ghazali was traumatized when an Israeli airstrike on his family’s village in Lebanon killed two of Ghazali’s brothers and two of their children about 10 days ago, CBS News reported, as law enforcement investigated Ghazali’s motive.
He was fatally shot after he rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel. After hitting the building, his vehicle also caught fire. He was found dead in his vehicle, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
“What drove this person to do this has to be determined by the investigation,” Bouchard said.
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What happened?
Ghazali allegedly crashed his truck through the doors of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, near Detroit, and drove through the hallway before being shot by a security officer.
The attacker was killed during the confrontation. The vehicle also soon caught fire.
Authorities said it was not immediately clear whether he took his own life or was shot by security personnel.
Within minutes of the attack, smoke was billowing from the synagogue.
One security officer was struck by the vehicle and knocked unconscious but did not suffer life-threatening injuries, the sheriff said. And 30 law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
West Bloomfield Police Chief Dale Young said Temple security officers “engaged the individual and neutralized the threat.”
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No one was injured
None of the synagogue’s staff, teachers or the 140 children at its early childhood center were injured, according to the AP.
Temple Israel has 12,000 members, according to its website, which says the synagogue is “passionate about helping Jewish communities around the world” and that its mission is “to create community building through the lens of Reform Judaism.”
Cassi Cohen, director of strategic development at Temple Israel, told the AP that she was standing in the hallway where the accident happened. She said there was a classroom of children and at least 30 staff members near where the car drove into the synagogue.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”
2nd attack in a year
It was the second attack on a house of worship in Michigan in the past year.
Last September, a former Marine fatally shot four people in a church north of Detroit and set it on fire. The FBI later said he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit briefly advised all Jewish organizations in the area to go into lockdown.
