Michigan attack investigated as "targeted act" against Jewish community
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Law enforcement respond near Temple Israel following reports of an active shooter on Thursday in West Bloomfield, Mich. Photo: Emily Elconin/Getty Images
An armed suspect is dead after ramming a vehicle on Thursday into Temple Israel Synagogue in Detroit's suburbs, according to law enforcement officials.
The latest: The suspect in the West Bloomfield attack was identified as a 41-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, who was born in Lebanon, per a Department of Homeland Security statement emailed to outlets including Axios Thursday evening.
The big picture: Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office, said during a Thursday briefing that the bureau is "leading the investigation right now as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community."
- The attack comes as antisemitism is on the rise and as FBI director Kash Patel has warned U.S. forces to be on "high alert" amid the Iran war.
State of play: A large number of explosives were found in the back of the suspect's vehicle, law enforcement officials told CNN.
- People in the West Bloomfield School District were told to shelter in place until officials were able to guarantee that there were no additional explosive devices on the scene, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
- There were no injuries to students or school staff, but a security guard was taken to a local-area hospital after being hit by the car, according to Bouchard. They're expected to recover, Bouchard said.
- DHS identified the suspect as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali. He came to the U.S. on an IR1 immigrant visa in 2011 "as the spouse of a U.S. citizen" and was "granted U.S. citizenship" in 2016, per DHS.
Context: Temple Israel says it is the nation's largest Reform synagogue and has a school on the premises.
What they're saying: "This is heartbreaking," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said in a Thursday statement.
- "Michigan's Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace. Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan. I am hoping for everyone's safety."
- Bouchard said at a Thursday press conference: "We've been talking for two weeks about the potential, sadly, of this happening, so there was no lack of preparation.
- "In addition, all Jewish facilities in the area are going to have a lot of extra presence around it until we figure this out."
Zoom out: The FBI is investigating a second school shooting Thursday, which left one dead and two wounded at Old Dominion University, as an "act of terrorism," Patel wrote on X.
- Roughly 30% of the school's students are military-affiliated, and the university is based in Norfolk, Virginia, home to one of the largest naval bases in the world.
- The shooting was allegedly carried out by a former Virginia National Guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, an FBI official said at a Thursday briefing.
- The suspect is dead, law enforcement officials said at a briefing. At least two of the victims were part of the school's ROTC program.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
