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Michigan synagogue terrorist who smashed car into temple then opened fire, identified as Lebanese-born US citizen, grieving four family members killed in recent Israeli air strike

&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpcnt">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"wpa">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<span class&equals;"wpa-about">Advertisements<&sol;span>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<div class&equals;"u top&lowbar;amp">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<amp-ad width&equals;"300" height&equals;"265"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; type&equals;"pubmine"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-siteid&equals;"109460728"&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab; data-section&equals;"1">&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;amp-ad>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&Tab;&Tab;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f135512ef467f1de94afa4749dd76e19" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;230505&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Ayman Mohamad Ghazali&comma; 41&comma; was shot dead in a burning vehicle on Thursday March 12&comma; in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7ea2f462179fe64ffb738529fbf6675c" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;230505&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Ghazali&comma; is the alleged terrorist who who smashed a truck filled with explosives into a Michigan synagogue and then opened fire before he was neutralized by a security guard <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21c00a586e52fb7c2fbfd358267bd5c1" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;230505&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>According to authorities&comma; the father of two young girls is a naturalized US citizen born in Lebanon&comma; residing in the Dearborn Heights<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14932e4229ef337e13cebd9c748bceb8" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;230505&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Ghazali rammed his truck into the synagogue a week after his two brothers&comma; niece and nephew were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-82d4d9a10e484a17511f416bf7fcda40" style&equals;"color&colon;&num;230505&semi;font-size&colon;14px"><strong>Authorities say the siblings killed were connected to Hezbollah and <strong>Ghazal<&sol;strong><&sol;strong>i<strong><strong> himself had known connections to the Iran-backed terror group <&sol;strong><&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-2&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494981" style&equals;"aspect-ratio&colon;0&period;8632502199749553&semi;width&colon;785px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Lebanese-born restaurant worker Ayman Mohamad Ghazali&comma; &lbrack;photo&rsqb;&comma; from Dearborn Heights&comma; MI&comma; was killed in a Thursday incident when he drive a truck filled with explosives into a Michigan synagogue&comma; then opened fire <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The terrorist who smashed a truck filled with explosives into a Michigan synagogue and then opened fire has been pictured for the first time&period;<br>Ayman Mohamad Ghazali&comma; 41&comma; was killed by security on Thursday after he attacked the Temple Israel synagogue in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield&period;<br>Ghazali&comma; a naturalized US citizen born in Lebanon&comma; has been praised by neighbors in the Dearborn Heights community as being &&num;8216&semi;one of the kindest people you can ever meet&period;&&num;8217&semi;<br>But law enforcement sources have now <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;nypost&period;com&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;13&sol;us-news&sol;first-photo-of-michigan-shooter-who-tried-to-murder-jewish-toddlers&sol;">revealed<&sol;a> that he had known connections to Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah&period; Contacts of known Hezbollah members were found in his phone in 2019 when he was questioned by police after returning home from a trip overseas&period;<br>The brothers&comma; law enforcement sources said were known members of Iranian-backed Hezbollah&period;<br>AP reported that Kassim Ghazali&comma; a well-known soccer coach and personal trainer along with his brother Ibrahim Ghazali&comma; a driver&comma; were killed in the Israeli strike just after sunset on March 5&comma; as they were breaking fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan&period;<br>Ibrahim&&num;8217&semi;s children&comma; Ali and Fatima were also killed while his wife was also seriously wounded and remains hospitalized&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-1&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494980" style&equals;"width&colon;797px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Terror attack suspect Ghazali&comma; &lbrack;photo&rsqb;&comma; worked at Hamido&comma; a popular Middle Eastern restaurant in Dearborn Heights&comma; Michigan&comma; where he also lived<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Ghazali&comma; who was known to travel to his native Lebanon&comma; where the terror group is based&comma; told officials he went abroad to receive a hair transplant&period; The FBI is looked into the incident&comma; although the outcome of their probe is unknown&period;<br>Ghazali who had two young daughters&comma; lived in nearby Dearborn Heights&comma; which has the largest Arab American population in the United States&period; The FBI raided his home on Thursday night&period;<br>According to local media reports&comma; he was well liked in his locale&comma; especially by patrons of Hamido&comma; the popular Middle Eastern restaurant where he worked&period;<br>He rammed his truck into the synagogue days after his two brothers&comma; niece and nephew were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon&comma; authorities confirmed&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-worked-at-Hamido-restaurant-in-Dearborn-Heights-MI-1&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494983" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Ghazali who worked at Hamido&comma; a popular Middle Eastern eatery in Dearborn Heights was well liked in his community and by patrons&period; Many believe he was propelled by grief when he drove his truck filled with explosives and mortar shells into the synagogue on Thursday<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>He had been absent from work in the weeks leading up to the synagogue attack&comma; a colleague revealed&period; <br>His longtime neighbor Kandie Zaidieh&comma; thinks the tragedy in Lebanon may have played a role in his snapping&period;<br>Her remarks were echoed by several Hamido patrons&comma; who described him as a &&num;8216&semi;He was a very hospitable man and a loving father&comma;&&num;8217&semi; who always would welcome patrons to Hamido patron &&num;8216&semi;with a smile&comma;&&num;8217&semi; and always treated them with &&num;8216&semi;kindness&period;&&num;8217&semi; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Feds-raid-the-home-of-Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-in-Dearborn-Heights-MI-1-on-March-12-2022&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494985" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Feds late Thursday night raided the home of Ayman Mohamad Ghazali in Dearborn Heights&comma; MI <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Mike Smith&comma; who said he visited the restaurant the day before the synagogue attack&comma; said it was &&num;8216&semi;shocking&&num;8217&semi; to hear about Ghazali&period;<br>&&num;8216&semi;This guy was always a nice guy&comma; one of the kindest people you can ever meet&comma;&&num;8217&semi; Smith wrote&comma; adding that Ghazali&&num;8217&semi;s &&num;8216&semi;customer service was great&period;&&num;8217&semi; <br>Siran Mouhanna&comma; admitting she did not know Ghazali well&comma; said that during the encounters they shared&comma; &&num;8216&semi;he was the kindest&comma; most respectful guy&period;&&num;8217&semi; She added&colon; &&num;8216&semi;It breaks my heart&period;&&num;8217&semi;<br>&&num;8216&semi;I don&&num;8217&semi;t believe Ayman can do something like this&comma;&&num;8217&semi; said Mike Dalou&period;<br> &&num;8216&semi;He is the most respectful man and very kind&period; I&&num;8217&semi;m lost for words&period; I pray for him&comma; his family and everyone involved&period;&&num;8217&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Shooting-at-Synagogue-in-Detroit-6&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494872" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Lebanese born Ayman Mohamad Ghazali allegedly carried out the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township&comma; which also serves as a preschool&comma; after losing four family members in an Israeli strike on Lebanon<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-was-killed-by-a-security-guard-at-the-Synagugue-his-body-was-severely-burned-when-recovered&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494988" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>The vehicle smashed into the doors of Temple Israel in Michigan&comma; injuring one of the security guards&period; Confronted by the security guards there was exchange of gunfire before the vehicle caught fire&period; The driver who was neutralized by one of they guards&comma; suffered was severe burns when the body was recovered <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;First-reponders-arrive-after-Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-attacked-The-Temple-Isreal-in-West-Bloomfield-MI-2&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494995" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Heavy presence of local law enforcement and first responders seen after Ghazali attacked The Temple Israel in West Bloomfield&comma; MI on March 12<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-3&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494998" style&equals;"aspect-ratio&colon;0&period;7437150679494534&semi;width&colon;805px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Lebanese born Ghazali emigrated to the United States in May 2011 on an immediate relative visa as the spouse of an American citizen&comma; though he is now divorced<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Born in Lebanon in 1985&comma; Ghazali emigrated to the United States in May 2011 on an immediate relative visa as the spouse of an American citizen&comma; according to the Department of Homeland Security&period;<br>He then applied for naturalization on October 20&comma; 2015&comma; and became a citizen on February 5&comma; 2016&period;<br>Court records show that Ghazali&&num;8217&semi;s ex-wife filed for divorce in Wayne County Circuit Court in August 2024&period;<br>A divorce was granted seven months later in March 2025&period;  <br>According to a <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;cbsnews&period;com&sol;news&sol;synagogue-shooting-michigan-what-we-know&sol;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noreferrer noopener">CBS News<&sol;a> report&comma; Ghazali phoned his ex-wife shortly before the attack&comma; asking her to take care of their children&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Parents-carrying-their-preschool-children-to-safety-after-attack-on-Temple-Israel-synagogue-in-MI-on-March-12&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494989" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Parents of the students at the preschool attached to the Synagogue&comma; were escorted by police as they carried their children out of the building&comma; after the attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield&comma; MI&comma; on March 12<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;Police-escort-people-away-after-attack-on-Temple-Israel-synagogue-in-MI-2&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494991" style&equals;"width&colon;830px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>Law enforcement escort families away from the Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday&comma; in West Bloomfield Township&comma; Michigan<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Ghazali drove a truck filled with explosives into Temple Israel&comma; which also serves as a preschool&comma; at around 12&period;20pm on Thursday&period;<br>The synagogue &&num;8216&semi;became engulfed&&num;8217&semi; in flames after the vehicle collided with it&period; The truck caught fire&period;<br>Ghazali was shot dead by a guard at the synagogue&period; The suspect&&num;8217&semi;s body when recovered&comma; had suffered severe burns&period; <br>No students or staff were injured in the attack&comma; but a security guard was taken to the hospital after being struck by the vehicle&period; He is expected to recover&period;<br>Thirty law enforcement officers were also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation&period;<br>Federal authorities said at a news conference that they are probing the horrific incident as a &&num;8216&semi;targeted act of violence&&num;8217&semi; against the Jewish community&period;  <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;FBI-patrol-after-Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-attacked-The-Temple-Isreal-in-West-Bloomfield-MI-1&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494993" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>FBI patrol the Synagogue grounds after Ayman Mohamad Ghazali attacked The Temple Israel in West Bloomfield&comma; MI on Thursday afternoon<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;konniemoments&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;03&sol;First-reponders-arrive-after-Ayman-Mohamad-Ghazali-attacked-The-Temple-Isreal-in-West-Bloomfield-MI-1&period;png" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-494994" style&equals;"width&colon;840px&semi;height&colon;auto"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-small-font-size"><strong>First responders and law enforcement were seen at the synagogue entrance after the security team brought the intrusion to a swift&comma; the only fatality being the suspected attacker<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The synagogue is a reform Jewish place of worship that was open at the time of the attack&period; It has 12&comma;000 members&comma; one of the largest congregations in the country&period; <br>FBI Detroit led an Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness &lpar;ASAPP&rpar; training for the clergy and staff of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield in late January&comma; nearly two months before Thursday&&num;8217&semi;s attack&period; <br>Synagogues around the world have been on edge and ramping up security since the US and Israel launched a war with Iran with missile strikes on February 28&period;<br>The FBI has warned that Iranian operatives may be planning drone attacks on targets in California&period; Two men brought explosives to a far-right protest outside the New York mayoral mansion on Saturday&period; Investigators allege they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group&period;<br>An assailant drove a car into people outside an Orthodox synagogue in Manchester&comma; England&comma; on Yom Kippur&comma; the holiest day of the Jewish calendar&period; He stabbed two people to death before officers shot and killed him&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;

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