The suspected armed attacker who authorities say rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue Thursday has been identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Lebanon, the Department of Homeland Security told The Independent.
Ghazali is accused of ramming his vehicle into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The suspect died after exchanging gunfire with security guards.
The FBI is investigating the attack as an “act of targeted violence against the Jewish community” but said a specific motive for the attack is not yet clear.
The synagogue also operates a preschool, according to MLive. No kids or staff members were injured, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard told reporters.
“We have no victims other than one of the lead security people, who was hit by the car and was taken to the hospital for treatment. That individual should be OK,” he said.
The suspect’s car had mortars inside, CNN reports, citing law enforcement sources.
On Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump said he’s been “fully briefed” on the incident, which he described as “a terrible thing.”
Key Points
- Shooting suspect dead after ramming car into Michigan synagogue: report
- FBI says attack is being investigated as a 'targeted act of violence against the Jewish community'
- No kids or staff injured in shooting: police
- Suspect's body badly burned: report
- Police investigating whether 'anybody else' was involved in shooting
Department of Homeland Security identifies Temple Israel attacker as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a Lebanese national who became a U.S. citizen in 2016
09:00 , Graig GraziosiThe Department of Homeland Security identified the Temple Israel attacker as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali.
According to the DHS, Ghazali was born in Lebanon in 1985 and arrived in the U.S. on May 10, 2011 through the Detroit Metropolitan International Airport.
He was married to a U.S. citizen. In October 2015 he applied for naturalization and he became a U.S. citizen in February 2016.
WATCH: Trump calls Michigan synagogue attack 'a terrible thing'
08:00 , Graig GraziosiNew York Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls attack 'horrifying' as NYPD ramps up patrols near Jewish religious and cultural sites
07:00 , Graig GraziosiOn Thursday, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani denounced the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan as “horrific,” saying that his “thoughts are with the congregation and all who are shaken by this act of antisemitic violence.”
The New York Police Department also announced it will dispatch “high-visibility patrols to Jewish religious and cultural institutions in the city.”
Michigan attorney general worries antisemitic attacks will scare people away from visiting synagogues and other Jewish institutions
06:00 , Graig GraziosiMichigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told CNN's Jake Tapper on Thursday that she fears antisemitic attacks like the one at Temple Israel will dissuade Americans from visiting Jewish synagogues and cultural institutions.
She also said she believes the Iran War influenced Thursday's attack.
“I think we can absolutely draw a nexus between the war in Iran and the events of today,” Nessel said. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that out of all the synagogues or temples that this individual could have picked, he picked the one that is named Temple Israel.”
Investigators work to determine exact reason for attack at Michigan synagogue
05:37 , Namita SinghInvestigators worked Friday to determine the exact reason a man with a rifle crashed into a large Michigan synagogue in what federal officials are saying was an attack carried out by a 41-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali was killed by security after ramming into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township near Detroit, Michigan, and driving down a hallway in a vehicle that then caught fire, according to authorities.
The FBI, which is leading the investigation, described the attack on one of the nation's largest Reform synagogues as an act of violence targeting the Jewish community.
The synagogue's staff, teachers and 140 children at its early childhood center were not injured, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
Ghazali came to the U.S. in 2011 on an immediate relative visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen and was granted U.S. citizenship in 2016, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Photos show response after attack at suburban Detroit synagogue
05:00 , Graig Graziosi
Photos show response after attack at suburban Detroit synagogue
WATCH: Michigan Temple Israel attack — Full press conference
03:59 , Graig GraziosiNotable attacks on houses of worship worldwide in past 15 years
03:00 , Graig GraziosiDespite the billions who attend weekly worship services globally with remarkable safety, a recent ambush on one of the nation's largest synagogues has intensified fear among clergy and worshippers worldwide.
This attack, occurring on Thursday, is the latest in a series targeting religious buildings and has intensified fear among clergy and worshippers worldwide.
Historically, annual fatalities from such assaults rarely exceed a few hundred, yet the current climate has underscored a growing concern.
READ MORE:
Notable attacks on houses of worship worldwide in past 15 years
What is Reform Judaism? History of the movement after attack on US synagogue
02:00 , Graig GraziosiTemple Israel, the Michigan synagogue recently targeted in an attack, stands as a prominent institution within Reform Judaism, North America's largest branch of the faith.
This denomination is known for its progressive values, including a strong emphasis on social justice and gender equality.
With approximately 3,500 families and over 12,000 members, Temple Israel boasts the second-largest congregation in the denomination, according to the Union for Reform Judaism.
READ MORE:
What is Reform Judaism? History of the movement after attack on US synagogue
Department of Homeland Security identifies Temple Israel attacker as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a Lebanese national who became a U.S. citizen in 2016
01:26 , Graig GraziosiThe Department of Homeland Security identified the Temple Israel attacker as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali.
According to the DHS, Ghazali was born in Lebanon in 1985 and arrived in the U.S. on May 10, 2011 through the Detroit Metropolitan International Airport.
He was married to a U.S. citizen. In October 2015 he applied for naturalization and he became a U.S. citizen in February 2016.
WATCH: Michigan lawmaker: ‘We have to stand up to hate’ after 3 religious attacks
01:00 , Graig GraziosiMichigan lawmaker who attends Temple Israel says she is 'absolutely shaken' following attack
00:40 , Graig GraziosiMichigan state Representative Samantha Steckloff said the Thursday attack on her place of worship, Temple Israel, has left her “absolutely shaken.”
She told CNN that she lives approximately four miles from the synagogue, and said antisemitic attacks were on the rise.
“When you have so many people blaming the Jewish community across the world for a war that is being done in the Middle East, the divisiveness you have seen boil up for the past few years was just almost ripe for the picking,” Steckloff said.
FBI Special Agent Jennifer Runyan said more than 100 bureau agents responded to the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan on Thursday.
During a press briefing on Thursday evening, Runyan said that various agents — including bomb specialists and members of its evidence collection and weapons of mass destruction teams — were assigned to work on the attack.
She said the agents are “pursuing diligently and methodically every lead that we have.”
Oakland County sheriff vows to protect Jewish community in Michigan
00:00 , Graig GraziosiOakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said during a Thursday night press conference that law enforcement entities in Michigan would work to protect Jewish institutions from further attacks.
“If you think you can target the Jewish community in this county or anywhere in this state, you’re wrong,” he said during the briefing. “We’re going to not only stand in front of them to protect them, we’re coming for you.”
Michigan attorney general worries antisemitic attacks will scare people away from visiting synagogues and other Jewish institutions
Thursday 12 March 2026 23:25 , Graig GraziosiMichigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told CNN's Jake Tapper on Thursday that she fears antisemitic attacks like the one at Temple Israel will dissuade Americans from visiting Jewish synagogues and cultural institutions.
She also said she believes the Iran War influenced Thursday's attack.
“I think we can absolutely draw a nexus between the war in Iran and the events of today,” Nessel said. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that out of all the synagogues or temples that this individual could have picked, he picked the one that is named Temple Israel.”
Report claims that vehicle used in synagogue attack allegedly registered to a man originally from Lebanon whose family members were killed in Israeli airstrikes
Thursday 12 March 2026 23:22 , Graig GraziosiA CNN report, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, is claiming that the vehicle used in Thursday’s synagogue attack was registered to a man from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, who is originally from Lebanon.
According to the law enforcement sources who spoke to the network, the man had mentioned to others in the community that Israeli airstrikes had killed some of his family members in Lebanon since the start of the war in Iran.
This report is not confirmed, and the attacker has not been identified by law enforcement.
Lebanese authorities claim that more than 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon following Israeli airstrikes. Shortly after the war in Iran erupted, Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel.
Earlier this week, Israel began directing its attacks at central Beirut, Lebanon’s capital and most populous city.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls attack 'horrifying' as NYPD ramps up patrols near Jewish religious and cultural sites
Thursday 12 March 2026 23:10 , Graig GraziosiOn Thursday, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani denounced the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan as “horrific,” saying that his “thoughts are with the congregation and all who are shaken by this act of antisemitic violence.”
The New York Police Department also announced it will dispatch “high-visibility patrols to Jewish religious and cultural institutions in the city.”
Oakland County sheriff says attacker's motive is still under investigation
Thursday 12 March 2026 22:51 , Graig GraziosiOakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said that the motive of the person who attacked the Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday is still under investigation, and acknowledged that there questions as to whether or not the attack is related to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.
"Obviously what happens around the world sometimes affects us,” he said during a Thursday evening briefing, but cautioned against anyone jumping to conclusions.
“What drove this person into action that has to be determined by the investigation,” Bouchard said. “We can presume, but we have to find those facts, and that’s going to happen over the next days in time.”
FBI says attack is being investigated as a 'targeted act of violence against the Jewish community'
Thursday 12 March 2026 22:38 , Graig GraziosiFBI Special Agent in charge of the Detroit field office Jennifer Runyan said during a Thursday night press briefing that the bureau is investigating the Temple Israel attack as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.”
The bureau is also asking for anyone with images or video of the attack to send it to them via a digital tip line.
Runyan did not provide identifying information about the attacker or their motive.
The FBI will provide another update sometime tomorrow.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard says 30 law enforcement officers in hospital for smoke inhalation
Thursday 12 March 2026 22:31 , Graig GraziosiDuring a press briefing on Thursday, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said that 30 law enforcement officers had to be treated for smoke inhalation caused by a fire during the attack at a synagogue in Michigan.
He said that a private security guard was injured and is being treated after being knocked down by the attacker’s vehicle.
He also said no children or staff were hurt.
Officials to give evening update shortly
Thursday 12 March 2026 22:02 , Graig GraziosiLaw enforcement officials and community leaders will give an update on the investigation into Thursday’s synagogue attack shortly.
Stay with The Independent for updates from the press briefing.
Israeli official says he is 'shocked' by Michigan synagogue attack
Thursday 12 March 2026 21:40 , Graig GraziosiIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said in a social media statement on Thursday that he was “shocked” by the synagogue attack in Michigan.
“Shocked by the attack on a synagogue near Detroit,” he wrote.
He added that Israeli officials are in touch with the local Jewish community and authorities.
“Antisemitism must never be allowed to rear its ugly head,” he wrote.
Carole Zawatsky, chief executive of Tree of Life in Pittsburgh, issued a statement on Thursday saying she was relieved to hear that no synagogue members or students had been injured in the attack earlier in the day.
“And yet the feelings of fear the incident has awakened for me and many in my own community in Pittsburgh persist,” she said. “We grieve for a lost sense of security.”
In 2018, a gunman attacked the Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 people. It was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Eight first responders being treated at Michigan hospitals following synagogue attack
Thursday 12 March 2026 21:14 , Graig GraziosiHenry Ford Health said in a statement that it is treating eight first responders who were reportedly injured following the Michigan synagogue attack.
The first responders are being treated at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital.
The hospital did not provide details about the individuals’ conditions.
Earlier on Thursday, West Bloomfield Police said that there were no injuries reported from the attack and that they did not transport anyone for medical care.
Trump remarks on Michigan synagogue attack
Thursday 12 March 2026 21:00 , Graig GraziosiDuring an event at the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump remarked on the synagogue attack in Michigan.
“I have been fully briefed,” Trump said. “It is a terrible thing, but it goes on. We’re going to be right down to the bottom of it. It is absolutely incredible that things like this happen.”
8 emergency responders were hospitalized: report
Thursday 12 March 2026 20:55 , Brendan RasciusEight first responders were hospitalized as a result of the synagogue attack, a spokesperson for the Henry Ford Health system said, according to The New York Times.
It’s not clear what specific conditions they were treated for.
Temple Israel confirms that its students and teachers are safe: report
Thursday 12 March 2026 20:45 , Brendan RasciusTemple Israel confirmed that its “140 students and their teachers” were unharmed and safe, according to The New York Times.
Officials to host press conference on attack at 6 pm ET
Thursday 12 March 2026 20:37 , Brendan RasciusThe FBI said that officials will hold a press conference on the synagogue attack at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
Trump says he's been 'fully briefed' on attack
Thursday 12 March 2026 20:35 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump said he has been “fully briefed” on the synagogue attack in Michigan.
“It is a terrible thing, but it goes on,” Trump said at the White House on Thursday afternoon. “We’re going to be right down to the bottom of it. It is absolutely incredible that things like this happen.”
AOC says she's 'devastated by the antisemitic attack' in Michigan
Thursday 12 March 2026 20:25 , Brendan Rascius“I'm devastated by the antisemitic attack at one of our nation's largest reform synagogues,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a New York Democrat, wrote on X on Thursday afternoon.
I'm devastated by the antisemitic attack at one of our nation's largest reform synagogues. My heart is with the entire Temple Israel congregation.
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) March 12, 2026
Antisemitism has no place in our country. We owe it to our Jewish siblings to stamp it out and ensure they can worship without fear.
Parents waited anxiously outside synagogue before learning children were safe: report
Thursday 12 March 2026 20:05 , Brendan RasciusParents waited anxiously near the West Bloomfield synagogue before learning their children were unharmed, according to a report.
“At first, when they didn't know, the parents were like falling to the ground,” Lisa Stern, a member of the temple, told the BBC. “Thankfully it was minutes until they said the kids were safe.”
Police in New York and DC are increasing security at Jewish institutions
Thursday 12 March 2026 19:50 , Brendan RasciusFollowing the synagogue shooting in Michigan, police in multiple U.S. cities say they are stepping up security at Jewish institutions.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and given the overall heightened threat environment, we’re continuing to deploy high-visibility patrols to Jewish religious and cultural institutions in the city,” the New York City Police Department said in a statement.
The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., said it is boosting its “presence at Jewish Institutions and other places of worship.”
Suspect's body badly burned: report
Thursday 12 March 2026 19:38 , Rachel DobkinThe body of the armed suspect who rammed a vehicle into a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Thursday has been badly burned, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
This can make it harder to identify the suspect.
Nearly 200 law enforcement vehicles at Temple Israel: report
Thursday 12 March 2026 19:34 , Rachel DobkinNearly 200 law enforcement vehicles have responded to Temple Israel after an armed suspect rammed a vehicle into the West Bloomfield synagogue, The New York Times reported.
Bomb-sniffing dogs sweeping suspect's vehicle
Thursday 12 March 2026 19:29 , Rachel DobkinBomb-sniffing dogs are sweeping the suspect’s vehicle, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said.
FBI led active shooter training at Temple Israel weeks before Thursday's incident
Thursday 12 March 2026 19:13 , Rachel DobkinThe FBI’s Detroit field office led an active shooter training at Temple Israel weeks before an armed suspect rammed a vehicle into the West Bloomfield synagogue.
FBI Detroit led an Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) training for the clergy and staff of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. The FBI course combines lessons learned from years of research and employs scenario-based exercises to help participants practice… pic.twitter.com/qvtJIkClkS
— FBI Detroit (@FBIDetroit) January 30, 2026
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency‘s Asaf Elia-Shalev reported on the training first.
Ann Arbor police increasing patrols and responding to 'houses of worship'
Thursday 12 March 2026 19:06 , Rachel DobkinThe Ann Arbor Police Department has announced it is increasing patrols and responding to “houses of worship” after an armed suspect rammed a vehicle into a West Bloomfield synagogue.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Chief Andre Anderson has directed Ann Arbor police officers to increase patrols and respond to local houses of worship and schools throughout the city as a precautionary safety measure,” Ann Arbor police wrote on social media.
Authorities said, “At this time, there is no known threat to the Ann Arbor community.”
Police now investigating if others involved in shooting
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:51 , Katie HawkinsonOakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters police are now investigating if there was “anybody else involved” in today’s shooting at Temple Israel.
No kids or staff injured in shooting: police
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:48 , Katie HawkinsonFollowing Thursday’s shooting at Temple Israel, which also operates a preschool, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard confirmed no kids or staff members were injured.
“We have no victims other than one of the lead security people, who was hit by the car and was taken to the hospital for treatment. That individual should be OK,” he told reporters.
Suspect crashed car into building
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:39 , Katie HawkinsonPolice responded Thursday to reports of a shooting at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
The suspect, who was armed with a rifle, crashed a vehicle into the building and was fatally shot by security, the Associated Press reports.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard confirmed the suspect drove a vehicle into the building and that “security did engage the suspect with gunfire.” Bouchard did not confirm the suspect’s cause of death.
Trump briefed on shooting
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:35 , Katie Hawkinson“The President has been briefed on the shooting in Michigan,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
In pictures: Police respond to Temple Israel
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:24 , Katie Hawkinson
'All kids and staff accounted for' at synagogue: report
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:17 , Katie HawkinsonThe New York Times reports that synagogue members were sent a text indicating “all kids and staff” have been accounted for following the shooting.
“Lockdown is still in place, but the active shooter has been taken down,” the text said. “Lockdown will be in place until they know the shooter acted alone. All kids and staff accounted for.”
Suspect dead: reports
Thursday 12 March 2026 18:10 , Katie HawkinsonThe suspected shooter who opened fire at Temple Israel is dead, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters: “Nobody at the moment has been confirmed to be hurt, except potentially the shooter.”
Witness says she's 'scared to death' for her friends
Thursday 12 March 2026 17:57 , Katie HawkinsonLisa Stern told NBC News affiliate WDIV she’s standing outside Temple Israel following reports of the shooting. Her friend, a social worker, is inside the building, she said.
"I'm scared to death for my friends," she told the outlet.
"This is senseless. It's senseless," she added. "We have to be better than this.
Congresswoman speaks out following reports of shooting
Thursday 12 March 2026 17:50 , Katie HawkinsonRepresentative Haley Stevens said she’s getting reports “in real time” about the shooting at Temple Israel.
“To everyone in Michigan’s 11th district, continue to follow the guidance of local law enforcement,” she wrote on X. “To the Jewish American community in Michigan and beyond, we stand with you.”
FBI responds to 'apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation'
Thursday 12 March 2026 17:46 , Katie HawkinsonFBI agents are responding to Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, agency director Kash Patel said.
“FBI personnel are on the scene with partners in Michigan and responding to the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation out of Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan,” he wrote on X.
Michigan governor 'tracking reports' about shooting
Thursday 12 March 2026 17:45 , Katie HawkinsonMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is “tracking reports” about the shooting at Temple Israel.
“This is heartbreaking,” she wrote in a statement. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”
“Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan. I am hoping for everyone’s safety,” she added.
Sheriff's office confirms officers responding to scene
Thursday 12 March 2026 17:39 , Katie HawkinsonThe Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is responding to Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, along with multiple other agencies.
“OCSO AND MULTIPLE AGENCIES ON SCENE AT TEMPLE ISRAEL WEST BLOOMFIELD FOR REPORTS OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER,” the agency said in a statement. “EMERGENCY PERSONNEL CLEARING THE BUILDING.”
Breaking news: ‘Active shooter’ reported at Michigan synagogue after car crashed into the building
Thursday 12 March 2026 17:32 , Katie HawkinsonPolice are responding to reports of an active shooter at a Michigan synagogue.
Read more:
‘Active shooter’ reported at Michigan synagogue after car crashed into the building
