A man of Lebanese descent crashed his car into a synagogue after losing four family members in an Israeli airstrike a week earlier in what authorities described as a deliberate attack. Ayman Mohammad Ghazali, 41, drove into Temple Israel near Detroit on Thursday and subsequently engaged in a shootout with an armed security guard. Security personnel at the synagogue reportedly ended the gunman’s life, with later confirmation that he took his own life after his vehicle caught fire.
Officials discovered significant amounts of liquid, suspected to be petrol, and fireworks in Ghazali’s car. It was revealed that the suspect’s relatives were casualties of the Israeli airstrike, with four individuals perishing in Mashgharah on March 5. A local official confirmed that Ghazali’s two brothers, a niece, and a nephew were among the victims, while his mother sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized.
Ghazali immigrated to the US in 2011 through a spousal visa and obtained citizenship in 2016. Fortunately, none of the synagogue’s staff, teachers, or the 140 children present at the early childhood center were harmed during the incident. The FBI’s Detroit field office referred to the incident as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
Witnesses at Temple Israel recounted the chaotic event, with Cassi Cohen, the director of strategic development, describing how she swiftly secured the premises upon hearing the crash. Cohen emphasized the preparedness of the staff for such emergencies, mentioning that drills had been conducted.
