WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — Authorities are investigating a vehicle-ramming attack at Temple Israel, a synagogue in this Detroit suburb, as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community, the FBI said.
A 41-year-old man drove a pickup truck into the building shortly before 12:19 p.m. EDT on March 12, 2026, and a shootout with security guards followed, officials said. The suspect died at the scene, and one security guard was injured, according to law enforcement.
The FBI identified the suspect as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Lebanon who lived in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. He was armed with a rifle, authorities said.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard told reporters that Ghazali drove the Ford F-150 through the synagogue's front entrance and down a hallway, where the vehicle struck a guard and then caught fire. Security guards exchanged gunfire with him through the truck's windows as it became jammed inside the building, officials said.
"The suspect was found dead inside the vehicle," Bouchard said, according to reports from the scene.
No congregants or other worshippers were reported injured. Temple Israel, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the United States, houses a school and early childcare center. It was not immediately clear how many people were inside at the time of the incident.
Federal authorities, including the FBI, are leading the investigation. Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office, said the agency is treating the attack as a targeted act against the Jewish community.
Details about Ghazali's possible motive remained under investigation as of Friday. A Lebanese official told The Associated Press that Ghazali had lost family members in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon the previous week. He had immigrated to the U.S. in 2011 and became a citizen in 2016, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Local and federal officials did not immediately release further information on any potential links to broader conflicts or ideological motivations. No group has claimed responsibility.
Jewish community leaders in the Detroit area expressed concern over the attack while praising the response by synagogue security.
As of June 13, 2026, investigators continue to examine evidence from the scene, including the vehicle and any materials inside it. Authorities have not released additional details on the injured security guard's condition or the full sequence of events.
The incident has prompted increased security measures at houses of worship across the region, though officials have not specified new protocols publicly. The FBI said it is working with local police and other agencies to determine whether the attack was part of a larger threat.
Temple Israel officials have not issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming the building sustained significant damage from the vehicle and fire. Cleanup and repairs were underway, according to local reports.
