Michigan: A driver who rammed his vehicle into a Jewish synagogue in the US state of Michigan has died, authorities said, in an incident being investigated as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
According to officials, the suspect drove a vehicle through the doors of Temple Israel synagogue before continuing down a hallway inside the building. The vehicle later caught fire, causing heavy smoke that engulfed parts of the synagogue.
Oakland County Mike Bouchard said that security guards at the synagogue opened fire as the suspect approached and later confronted him inside the building. One security guard was struck by the vehicle and was taken to the hospital, where he is expected to recover.
Authorities identified the suspect as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old naturalised US citizen originally from Lebanon who arrived in the United States in 2011. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the incident is being investigated as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
Meanwhile, about 30 police officers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation after responding to the blaze inside the building. Investigators are still working to determine what ignited the fire, Bouchard said.
Happening Now: The FBI and our Michigan law enforcement partners give an update to the media regarding the Temple Israel synagogue attack that occurred today in West Bloomfield, Michigan. pic.twitter.com/7lquj1uf4w
— FBI Detroit (@FBIDetroit) March 12, 2026
Preschool children evacuated safely
The synagogue, one of the largest Reform Jewish congregations in the United States, also houses a preschool. Dozens of children were inside at the time of the incident, but were safely evacuated.
Students were taken to a nearby country club while authorities secured the building. In a statement, the synagogue confirmed that all 140 students, teachers and staff members were accounted for and safe.
Witness Lisa Stern, who has been a member of the congregation for more than two decades, said parents and relatives rushed to the area after hearing initial reports of an active shooter situation. Officials have not yet confirmed how the suspect died. Bouchard said it was difficult to determine the exact cause because the vehicle caught fire inside the building.
National response and security concerns
The Department of Homeland Security and federal investigators joined local law enforcement in responding to the emergency. Speaking at a White House event, Donald Trump expressed support for the local community.
Following the attack, law enforcement agencies increased patrols around Jewish institutions across the state, including other synagogues and community centres.
Community on high alert
Temple Israel, founded in 1941, has around 3,500 member families and roughly 12,000 congregants. The synagogue is situated in West Bloomfield, a suburb of Detroit, which is home to a large Jewish population.
Community members said security at the synagogue had already been strengthened since the start of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, amid rising antisemitism across the United States. The vehicle ramming has shaken the local community, Stern said, adding that many had feared such an attack could eventually happen.
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