A man drove a truck through the front doors of Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in what federal authorities are investigating as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. The suspect was killed after exchanging gunfire with synagogue security, and no worshippers or children were harmed.
The Attack
The truck swerved around safety bollards, crashed through the synagogue’s front doors, and drove down a hallway before armed security personnel opened fire on the driver. The suspect was carrying a rifle, and the truck contained fireworks and an unidentified chemical agent that ignited after the crash. The resulting fire severely burned the suspect’s body, complicating efforts to immediately determine the precise cause of death.
One synagogue security guard was struck by the truck and knocked unconscious but was expected to make a full recovery. More than 30 law enforcement officers who entered the building to search for threats and assist with evacuation were transported to hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.
Everyone Inside Safe
All 140 students, along with staff, teachers, and security personnel, were accounted for and uninjured. Teachers helped keep children calm throughout the ordeal, singing songs and keeping them occupied while emergency procedures were carried out. Temple Israel described its security personnel as heroes and said the teaching staff followed their training to protect the children.
The Suspect
The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Lebanon. Ghazali entered the United States in May 2011 on an immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen and became a naturalized citizen in February 2016. Investigators searched his home in Dearborn Heights overnight. A motive has not yet been established.
Federal Investigation
The FBI is leading the investigation, characterizing the incident as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. More than 100 FBI agents and analysts were mobilized alongside Homeland Security Investigations and other federal and local agencies. Notably, the FBI’s Detroit field office had conducted active shooter prevention and preparedness training for Temple Israel staff and clergy just weeks before the attack, in January 2026. Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny credited that training, saying everyone knew what to do when the situation unfolded.
Community and Political Response
The attack prompted widespread condemnations of antisemitism and led other area schools and synagogues to take precautionary security measures. President Trump said he had been briefed on the incident and expressed condolences to Michigan’s Jewish community. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard issued a direct warning to anyone who might consider targeting the Jewish community, vowing that law enforcement would stand in front of them and pursue any attacker without hesitation.
Temple Israel is one of the nation’s largest Reform Jewish congregations, serving approximately 3,500 member families. The investigation remains active as authorities continue examining the suspect’s background, the contents of his vehicle, and whether anyone else may have been involved in planning or carrying out the attack.