Man named after ‘ramming vehicle through synagogue’ | US | News
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, was driven down the hallway of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township near Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, March 12. Al-Ghazali, who was armed, was fatally shot by security guards. His vehicle then caught fire, authorities said.
According to federal authorities, Ghazali was a naturalized citizen born in Lebanon.
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He came to the United States in 2011 on a next-of-kin visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen and was naturalized in 2016, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said the crime was “a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.” The FBI is handling the investigation, he said at a news conference.
Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the incident.
None of the synagogue staff, teachers or the 140 children as young as 4 at the early childhood center were injured. A security guard was knocked unconscious but suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle
Smoke rose from the synagogue within minutes after the attack. It was understood that 30 law enforcement officers affected by the smoke were treated.
The suspect was found dead inside his vehicle.
Cassi Cohen, Temple Israel’s director of strategic development, was standing in the hallway where the crash occurred.
He said he heard a loud bang, grabbed several staff members, ran to his office and locked the door.
“Fortunately, we have had many active shooter drills and our personnel are prepared for these situations,” he said.
Synagogues around the world have been on edge and have increased security since the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated with force, plunging the region into conflict.
