Man Who Attacked Michigan Synagogue Was Suicidal, Ex-Wife Told Police

Ayman Ghazali exchanged gunfire with a guard and killed himself inside his pickup truck after ramming it into the synagogue.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:18am

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The man who drove his pickup truck into a Detroit-area synagogue last week was described as suicidal in a 911 phone call to police by his former wife, according to a TV station report. Ayman Ghazali, a naturalized U.S. citizen, attacked Temple Israel and its early childhood learning center in West Bloomfield Township, exchanging gunfire with a guard before killing himself inside the vehicle, which also caught fire. Ghazali's ex-wife told police he had lost family members during an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon and that his 'voice is not stable' and she 'just want[ed] to make sure he's OK'.

Why it matters

The attack on the synagogue has raised concerns about the threat of violence against religious institutions and the need for better understanding and support for those struggling with mental health issues. The details around Ghazali's motivations and state of mind provide important context for this incident.

The details

According to the report, Ghazali's ex-wife called 911 around the same time he attacked the synagogue, telling police he was 'suicidal'. She noted that Ghazali had lost family members in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon and that his 'voice is not stable'. Dearborn Heights police went to Ghazali's house but no one was there. The FBI said Ghazali waited in his vehicle outside the synagogue for two hours before ramming it into the building, where dozens of children were inside, though no children were hurt. Ghazali then exchanged gunfire with a guard and killed himself inside the vehicle, which also caught fire.

  • The 911 call from Ghazali's ex-wife came around the same time as the attack on the synagogue last Thursday.
  • Ghazali waited in his vehicle outside the synagogue for two hours before ramming it into the building.

The players

Ayman Ghazali

A naturalized U.S. citizen who attacked Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, exchanging gunfire with a guard before killing himself inside his pickup truck.

Ghazali's ex-wife

The person who called 911 to report that Ghazali was suicidal around the time of the synagogue attack.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like he's really upset.”

— Ghazali's ex-wife

“He's like suicidal.”

— Ghazali's ex-wife

“His voice is not stable. I just want to make sure he's OK.”

— Ghazali's ex-wife

What’s next

The FBI's Detroit office, which is investigating the synagogue attack, has declined to comment on the description of Ghazali's brother Ibrahim as a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for better mental health support and intervention to prevent such tragic acts of violence, as well as the complex geopolitical factors that can contribute to radicalization and attacks on religious institutions.