The US Department of Homeland Security has identified the gunman who carried out an attack on a Michigan synagogue yesterday as 41-year-old Ayman Mohammad Ghazali, a U.S. citizen of Lebanese descent.

The 41-year-old, who lived in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and worked at a local restaurant, was the man who drove his car packed with explosives into the Temple Israel synagogue’s kindergarten while 140 children were inside.

Synagogue guards reacted immediately, opening fire and stopping the gunman before he could spread death.

Gazali was found dead in his car, which caught fire and was completely destroyed.

According to police, while there were no injuries among the children and staff members, the synagogue’s head custodian suffered serious injuries from the car’s impact and is being treated at a local hospital, while dozens of other people who inhaled fumes also required medical attention.

According to a DHS statement on Thursday, Ghazali arrived in the US in 2011 via Detroit International Airport after receiving an IR1 visa as the spouse of a US citizen and was able to obtain citizenship in 2016 under Barack Obama‘s presidency.

According to documents from the Wayne County court, Gazali had at least one child with his ex-wife. His wife filed for divorce in August 2024, with the divorce being finalized seven months later.

He lost a brother and 3 other relatives in the Israeli bombing

Although there have been no official announcements yet about the motive of the attacker, US media reports that the attack may be linked to a recent tragedy in Ghazali’s life, as at least four of his relatives, including a brother, were killed in airstrikes by the Israeli military in Lebanon amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Although the investigation is ongoing, the FBI, which is in charge of the case, said the attack is considered a targeted attack against Michigan’s Jewish community.

The Oakland County area, where Temple Israel is located, is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the U.S. other than that of New York City.