A man who attacked a synagogue in Michigan was shot dead after the incident. Investigators said he had shared images of children killed in Israeli airstrikes moments before the attack.
The attacker was identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, who drove a vehicle into the grounds of Temple Israel on Thursday. Security personnel at the synagogue confronted him and opened fire after he attempted to carry out the attack. Ghazali died at the scene.
Authorities said the synagogue complex houses a preschool and that about 140 children and staff members were inside the building at the time. No children were injured during the incident.
Investigators later examined Ghazali’s phone and online activity and found that he had shared images showing children killed in Israeli strikes shortly before the attack. The posts were shared extensively on messaging platforms and appeared to reference casualties from recent Israeli military operations in the Middle East.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali was from Mashghara, a town in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. Israeli strikes killed two of his adult brothers as well as his niece and nephew, the official said, reports Sky News.
NEWS: The man who rammed his explosives-laden truck into a Michigan synagogue today was named Ayman Ghazaleh, according to a source familiar with the situation. Ghazaleh posted photos overnight of his family members, including young children, who were killed in a recent Israeli… pic.twitter.com/KEBeJPAZsD— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) March 12, 2026
Law enforcement officials also said Ghazali had recently lost several relatives in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. According to investigators, those deaths may have contributed to his actions, though authorities said the full motive is still under investigation.
Police secured the synagogue complex after the incident and searched Ghazali’s residence as part of the investigation.
After the attack, increased security was deployed at Jewish institutions across parts of Michigan. The presence of security personnel at the synagogue prevented the situation from becoming more serious.
Ghazali was a naturalized US citizen born in Lebanon who entered the United States on May 20, 2011, on an IR‑1 immigrant visa as the spouse of a US citizen. He applied for citizenship in October 2015 and was naturalized in February 2016. Ghazali lived in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and worked locally, including in the restaurant industry.
