Temple Israel synagogue suspect's family recently killed in air strike

A Dearborn Heights man whose relatives were recently killed in a military strike in Lebanon is the suspected assailant in Thursday's attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, two sources apprised of the investigation told The Detroit News.

Ayman Ghazali, 41, a restaurant worker in Dearborn Heights, is suspected of driving his truck into the synagogue just after noon Thursday and opening fire, before he was shot and killed by security, the sources said. They spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the details publicly.

Late Thursday night, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ghazali was the individual who carried out the attack.

Ghazali, a native of Lebanon, was granted U.S. citizenship more than 10 years ago, under the Obama administration, according to the department. He entered the U.S. through Detroit on May 10, 2011, on an immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, a DHS statement said. He applied for naturalization on Oct. 20, 2015, and was granted citizenship on Feb. 5, 2016.

Ghazali’s ex-wife filed for divorce in Wayne County Circuit Court in August 2024, records show. The couple had at least one child, according to court records, and a divorce was granted seven months later, in March 2025. Mohammad Ahmad Moussa, the ex-wife’s divorce lawyer, declined comment when contacted by The News on Thursday.

According to the sources, Ghazali had at least four relatives, including a sibling, killed days earlier in a military strike in Lebanon, the sources said. Ghazali worked at Hamido Restaurant in Dearborn Heights.

The Israeli military has carried out several waves of air strikes against Lebanon, where Lebanese officials say at least 687 people have been killed. Lebanon became involved in the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones against Israel in response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun addressed Ghazali's death in a statement and noted that "earlier this month, (Ghazali) lost several members of his own family, including his niece and nephew, in an Israeli attack on their home in Lebanon."

Baydoun also reacted to the attack on Temple Israel, saying: "Everyone deserves to worship in peace, and we must unequivocally condemn any attack on a house of worship or the people within it.""This tragedy comes at a time when communities everywhere are confronting rising hate and senseless violence," he said. "No matter where violence occurs, whether in West Bloomfield or anywhere around in the world, harm against innocent people is something we must all stand firmly against. The tensions we see across the world too often find their way into our own neighborhoods, reminding us how deeply connected our shared safety is."

A search was expected to be executed on Ghazali's Dearborn Heights home Thursday, according to one of the sources, but there was no activity there when The News visited on Thursday evening. The residence is about 25 miles from Temple Israel, where the attack took place.

Contacted earlier Thursday by The News about the investigation into the West Bloomfield Township attack, Dearborn Heights mayor's office responded that it was “monitoring this incident very closely and staying in contact with local and regional partners.”

“Because this incident is still under active investigation, we cannot provide any further comment at this time,” said Mallak Beydoun, chief of staff for Baydoun.
Details of the attack on Temple Israel

The gunman rammed his truck through the synagogue's front doors and then engaged with security guards, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said during a media briefing. A temple security guard was injured in the exchange and taken to a local hospital for treatment, Bouchard said.

Temple Israel officials said about 140 children, staff members and congregants were in the vicinity at the time of the attack but were safe. In a statement, the synagogue thanked teachers, staff, security and law enforcement, along with nearby Shenandoah Country Club, which helped shelter families as the situation unfolded.

Thursday's synagogue attack in Michigan triggered a massive law enforcement response across Oakland County, with dozens of police vehicles, SWAT teams and helicopters converging on the synagogue while authorities searched the surrounding area for the possibility of additional suspects. Nearby school districts and houses of worship were placed in secure mode as a precaution.

Federal agents, including FBI and ATF personnel, also responded to the scene as the investigation continued. The attack comes amid heightened concern about violence targeting Jewish institutions in North America and follows other recent attacks on houses of worship in Michigan over the past year.

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Alexa Holman

Temple Israel synagogue suspect's family recently killed in air strike

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