'Act of antisemitic violence:' Zohran Mamdani condemns Michigan synagogue attack
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday, March 12, issued a strong condemnation following the violent attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, labeling the incident an act of “antisemitic violence.”
In response to the tragedy, Mamdani further informed that “NYPD will continue to deploy high-visibility patrols” at Jewish religious and cultural centers throughout New York’s five boroughs to ensure public safety.
The attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan is horrifying. My thoughts are with the congregation and all who are shaken by this act of antisemitic violence. I am continuing to closely monitor the situation. Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD will continue to…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 12, 2026
Zohran Mamdani condemns Temple Israel synagogue attack
As news of the assault on Temple Israel spread, Mayor Mamdani took to X to express his solidarity with the victims and announce immediate heightened security measures.
"The attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan is horrifying. My thoughts are with the congregation and all who are shaken by this act of antisemitic violence. I am continuing to closely monitor the situation.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD will continue to deploy high-visibility patrols to Jewish religious and cultural institutions across the five boroughs," Mamdani stated on X.
Ayman Ghazali identified in Temple Israel attack
Authorities have identified 41-year-old Ayman Ghazali as the individual who carried out the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township on Thursday, March 12.
Officials report that Ghazali rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the building shortly after noon, causing the truck to catch fire upon impact.
After breaching the structure, the suspect exited the vehicle and began shooting before he was confronted and shot by synagogue security personnel.
It is to be noted that a security guard sustained minor injuries during the exchange and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Investigators probe motive behind synagogue attack
Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ghazali was a Lebanese native who was granted US citizenship in 2016.
Sources familiar with the investigation noted that Ghazali was a restaurant worker in Dearborn Heights, and he had recently lost four relatives, including a sibling, in a military strike in Lebanon.
Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, described the incident as a “targeted attack on the Jewish community” and called the incident “deeply disturbing and tragic.”
While the motive of the attack remains under investigation, the synagogue confirmed that approximately 140 children and staff members were safely evacuated from the preschool facility without further injury.
