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Synagogue attacker died of self-inflicted gunshot and had fireworks in truck, FBI says

Max Bryan, The Detroit News on

Published in Religious News

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.— A Dearborn Heights man who attacked Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Thursday and engaged in a gunfight with security officers died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the FBI said on Friday.

Ayman Ghazali, 41, of Dearborn Heights allegedly slammed his Ford F-150 through the front doors of Temple Israel on Walnut Lake Road and engaged in gunfire with the synagogue's security team. A fire ensued in the synagogue after his engine caught fire, and "several jugs" of gasoline in the trunk were consumed in the fire inside the synagogue, according to FBI Detroit Field Office Special Agent In Charge Jennifer Runyan.

Runyan also reported Ghazali also had fireworks in his trunk, but didn't state a motive on Friday evening.

"Because we are only 30 hours into this investigation, it would be irresponsible for me to speculate on a motive at this time," Runyan said at a news conference Friday evening at the Jewish Community Center.

Runyan said Ghazali sat in the Temple Israel parking lot for more than two hours before he rammed his truck into the synagogue's southeast entrance. His truck then got caught in a hallway in the synagogue.

 

Ghazali fired gunshots into his windshield, then got in a gunfight with one of the security guards through his rear window. A second officer then began firing at through the truck's front window at Ghazali, who was unable to extract himself, Runyan said.

More than 600 law enforcement officers from 42 agencies responded to the attack Thursday afternoon, said Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

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