PODCAST:
March 13, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds spoke with Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard about an ongoing investigation. He discussed the collaborative effort with federal authorities, the training of local security, and community preparedness.
March 13, 2026 ~ Jamie Edmonds, Lloyd Jackson, and Chris Renwick speak with Rabbi Aaron Bergman. They discuss the recent targeted attack and the community’s resilient, grateful, and forward-looking response.
WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI ~ Law enforcement agencies responded to a violent incident at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Thursday, where a suspect rammed a vehicle into the front doors of the synagogue and exchanged gunfire with security personnel.
Authorities confirmed the suspect is dead, later identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen who came to the U.S. in 2011. FBI agents were seen raiding the home linked to the suspect in Dearborn Heights.
No congregants or children were injured, and all preschoolers and staff inside the building stayed safe.
The Detroit FBI stated the incident was a “targeted attack” against the Jewish community. An official motive has not been established, but several members of Ghazali’s family were recently killed in the ongoing airstrikes by Israel.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the suspect steered around security barriers before crashing into the building, causing a fire at the entrance. A security guard was struck by the suspect’s truck and briefly knocked unconscious, but is expected to recover. Police found a large amount of explosives in the back of the car, according to officials briefed on the scene.
The situation prompted an immediate, heavy response from local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Out of caution, Jewish organizations across the Detroit area were placed in lockdown or lockout protocols. Dearborn Police also increased patrols around houses of worship out of caution.
Local and state leaders, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, have expressed support for the Jewish community, calling the attack heartbreaking and emphasizing that all residents deserve the right to worship safely.
