A naturalized U.S. citizen from Lebanon is dead after local, state and federal law enforcement authorities say he committed a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community” Thursday at a Reform Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
The suspect, identified Thursday night as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, allegedly rammed a vehicle into the house of worship and opened fire at security guards with a rifle, according to authorities.
Ghazali first entered the U.S. in 2011 and was later naturalized into a U.S. citizen in 2016 during the Obama administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News. He lived near Dearborn, Michigan.
Officials said he entered the U.S. on May 10, 2011, at Detroit Metropolitan International Airport on an IR1 immigrant visa, as the spouse of a U.S. citizen.
Alien relative and fiancé petitions filed in December 2009 were approved in April 2010, according to DHS. He applied for naturalization on Oct. 20, 2015, and was granted U.S. citizenship on Feb. 5, 2016, under the Obama administration.
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The ramming and shooting unfolded at about 12:19 p.m. local time Thursday at Temple Israel, according to Michigan State Police.
Authorities said Ghazali’s truck was “traveling with purpose,” when it slammed into the doors of the synagogue, knocking a security guard unconscious.
Another armed security guard shot at the truck, though it is unclear if the bullets struck Ghazali.
During the shooting, something in the truck ignited, causing a fire inside the vehicle, according to authorities. Ghazali’s body is badly burned.
Officials would not confirm whether explosives were in the truck, but said law enforcement is clearing the area using bomb K-9s.
Police responded within five minutes and cleared the building multiple times, authorities said.
Henry Ford Health said eight first responders were also hospitalized following the attack. A total of 30 first responders were treated for smoke inhalation.
All 140 students at the synagogue’s Susan and Harold Loss Early Childhood Center, along with staff and teachers, were accounted for and reported safe, according to Temple Israel.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi said FBI personnel and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are also assisting.
U.S. Census Bureau data from 2020 showed people of Middle Eastern or North African ancestry made up the majority of the population in Dearborn at 54.5%, according to a report from local outlet Click On Detroit.
Dearborn, which is about 30 minutes away from the synagogue, elected its first Arab American Mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, in 2021.
Following the shooting, Hammoud posted on social media noting he is “keeping the congregation at the synagogue in our prayers as this situation continues to unfold.”
“Hoping for everyone’s safety and for the safety of first responders working to secure the scene,” Hammoud wrote. “No one should fear violence while gathering in faith.”
In a previous post less than a week ago, Hammoud attacked Israel, alleging the country has a “genocidal government.”
“Let’s be clear. This is not a religious war, no matter how much the fanatics in this federal administration and the genocidal government of Israel want to frame it that way,” he wrote. “… Our government is pouring billions into bombs that are killing innocent civilians and helping Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government expand their ambitions in the region.”
“My residents are exhausted watching their families in Lebanon evacuate their homes for the third or fourth time, only to be bombed and killed,” he continued. “Enough.”
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Temple Israel is the largest Reform synagogue in the world, with more than 3,000 member families.
The campus includes a nursery and early childhood center, and clergy were present and operating at the time of the incident.
A member of the congregation, Doron Levine, who is originally from Pittsburgh and had worshiped at the Tree of Life synagogue when he was younger, told Fox News Digital that the community had long prepared for the possibility of an attack.
“We’ve been working on security for a decade, and personally it didn’t surprise me as much as it should have,” Levine said. “I know there was an active shooter drill there. So we’re a big target, and we didn’t want to be a soft target. We made sure we weren’t a soft target, and that paid off today.”
Patel added Thursday’s attack “could have ended far worse,” but thanks to preparation and the courage of those on the ground, lives were saved.
“Just months ago, our team at FBI Detroit Field Office conducted active-shooter preparedness training with the clergy and staff at Temple Israel, focusing on the Run, Hide, Fight principles and real-world decision making under pressure,” Patel wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. “These trainings often go unnoticed — but moments like this remind us exactly why they matter.”
The FBI unveiled a tip line at fbi.gov/westbloomfieldattack.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the attack “heartbreaking.”
“This is heartbreaking,” Whitmer wrote in an X post. “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. Thank you to law enforcement for their swift action.”
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Bloomfield Township Police did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
FOX 2 Detroit contributed to this report.
