A devastating attack on a synagogue in Michigan, USA, has left one person dead and 30 law enforcement officers injured. The incident occurred on Thursday at the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit with a large Jewish population. According to the FBI, a man rammed his vehicle into the synagogue before engaging in a shootout with security personnel.
The assailant, identified as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalised US citizen born in Lebanon, was found dead in his vehicle, which had caught fire. The cause of death was determined to be fatal shots from security officials. The FBI is leading the investigation as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
Investigation Underway
The FBI has announced that it is investigating the incident as a domestic terrorism attack. The agency is working to determine the motive behind the attack and whether Ghazali acted alone. The FBI has urged anyone with information to come forward.
In a separate incident, a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University in Virginia, killing one person. The suspect, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard, pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support for ISIL (ISIS).
US on High Alert
The United States has been on high alert for domestic attacks since the launch of its war on Iran alongside Israel on 28 February. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Jewish communities in the US and the potential for further attacks.
Here are some key facts about the incident:
- The attack occurred at the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan
- The assailant, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, was a 41-year-old naturalised US citizen born in Lebanon
- 30 law enforcement officers were injured due to smoke inhalation from the fire that erupted in the assailant’s vehicle
- The FBI is leading the investigation as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community
