The FBI on Thursday (March 12) confirmed that the Temple Israel synagogue attack in suburban Detroit was a "targeted act of violence" against the Jewish community, as authorities work to uncover the motive behind the incident.

Speaking at a press briefing, FBI officials said the assailant, identified as Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, a 41-year-old resident of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, had no prior criminal record or history of FBI investigations. Ghazali rammed a truck into the synagogue, injuring a security officer who was briefly knocked unconscious and igniting a fire that caused smoke-related injuries to dozens of first responders.

"We are letting the facts and evidence guide our investigation," a senior FBI official said, adding that it was too early to speculate on the assailant's motive. "This was clearly a targeted act of violence, but we are still determining its full context."

The attack occurred Thursday at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time (1730 GMT) at Temple Israel, one of the largest synagogues in the United States. All 140 preschool children were safely evacuated, synagogue officials said. Authorities credited security staff with helping to prevent further casualties.

In a separate incident on the same day, a man previously convicted of supporting a designated terrorist group fatally shot one person and injured two U.S. Army personnel at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. That suspect was killed at the scene.

The Temple Israel attack coincides with heightened fears among Jewish communities, as domestic threats against religious institutions increase amid tensions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Law enforcement agencies have urged heightened vigilance and have promised additional security measures in vulnerable locations.

Posted by: AAngeles/NET25 News