By Andrew Stanton and Gabe Whisnant
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The suspect in Thursday’s attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, has been identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the name and provided details of Ghazali’s immigration history, Fox News reported. Officials said Ghazali was born in Lebanon in 1985 and entered the United States in May 2011 on an immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen.
According to DHS, Ghazali applied for U.S. citizenship in October 2015 and was naturalized in February 2016. Authorities said he had been living in the Dearborn area.
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Homeland Security said in a statement, "The tragic attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan was carried out by Ayman Mohamad Ghazali. He was born in Lebanon on January 4, 1985. He entered the United States on May 10, 2011 at Detroit Metropolitan International Airport on an IR1 immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen after alien relative and fiancé petitions filed in December 2009 were approved in April 2010. He applied for naturalization on October 20, 2015 and was granted U.S. citizenship on February 5, 2016 under the Obama administration."
Ryan Grim of Drop Site News first reported on X that Ghazali was the attacker, who was armed with a rifle and killed in the incident.
Grim cited a source familiar with the investigation who said Ghazali was originally from Lebanon and had recently lost family members in an Israeli airstrike there. The source said Ghazali had posted images of his relatives on WhatsApp in the hours before the attack.
CNN also reported that the suspect was originally from Lebanon and had recently lost family members. Neither of those sources has named the suspect.
The FBI said the incident is being investigated as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community, though investigators have not yet determined a motive.
Michigan Synagogue Incident: What We Know
An attacker armed with a rifle was killed after ramming a vehicle into Temple Israel, one of the nation’s largest Reform Jewish synagogues, in suburban Detroit, federal authorities said.
Police told Newsweek earlier Thursday there is an “active situation” in West Bloomfield after an armed individual drove into the temple.
Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, called the attack “deeply disturbing and tragic” and said the bureau is leading the investigation. The vehicle burst into flames after crashing into the synagogue.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the attacker drove through a set of doors and into an interior hallway, where something inside the vehicle ignited. Video reviewed by investigators showed the man continuing through the building.
“He was traveling with purpose down the hall, from my look at the video,” Bouchard said.
The synagogue has multiple security officers, Bouchard said, and at least one exchanged gunfire with the attacker, who was later found dead inside his vehicle. Authorities have not determined the cause of death.
“We can’t say what killed him at this point, but security did engage the suspect with gunfire,” Bouchard said, adding that the attacker may have died from other causes. The synagogue later praised its security personnel for stopping the threat and said staff followed training protocols to keep children safe.
The Michigan incident happened on the same day that ROTC students subdued and killed a gunman who yelled “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire Thursday in an Old Dominion University classroom, killing one and wounding two, according to the FBI, which said the shooter had been in the National Guard and pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State.
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Where is West Bloomfield, Michigan?
West Bloomfield is a suburb of Detroit, located about 25 miles northwest of the city.
How Many People Have Been Injured?
No members of the synagogue’s staff, teachers or the roughly 140 children enrolled in its early childhood education center were injured, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said at a news conference.
Smoke poured from the synagogue in the minutes after the attack, authorities said. One security officer was struck by the vehicle and briefly knocked unconscious but did not suffer life‑threatening injuries, the sheriff said, adding that about 30 law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
What People Are Saying
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer wrote to X: “This is heartbreaking. 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.”
Representative John James, a Michigan Republican, wrote to X: "Synagogues, churches, and all houses of worship must remain sanctuaries of peace, prayer, learning, and community, never targets of violence or fear. We reject antisemitism and every form of hate, standing united in faith and resolve to protect Michigan's sacred spaces and every community from evil."
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) wrote to X: "ADL is aware of an active shooter situation at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI. We are actively monitoring the situation and learning more. Please follow local law enforcement guidance and avoid the area."
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, wrote to X: "I am closely tracking the active shooter situation at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township — a place I know well. This is another frightening event that is still being cleared. Please continue to follow local law enforcement guidelines and avoid the area — they are actively working the scene. My team and I will continue to be in close contact with law enforcement agencies and local officials."
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This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Updates: 3/12/26, 9:03 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks. The article and headline were updated with the correct spelling of "Ghazali."
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