A man was killed after ramming his vehicle into the front doors of a synagogue in suburban Detroit on Thursday afternoon, sparking a shootout with security officers and a massive police response.
The suspect, identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old US citizen born in Lebanon, was killed in the incident, authorities said.
No children or staff members inside the synagogue were injured, but one member of the security team was struck by the vehicle and taken to a hospital for treatment.
A fire ignited in the vehicle during the episode, complicating the scene, and bomb technicians and explosives detection dogs were deployed to clear the vehicle and the building.
The incident has raised concerns about antisemitism in the US, with incidents rising since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and resulting war in Gaza.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer described the news as 'heartbreaking' and said the state's Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.
