Local authorities alerted the Michigan synagogue targeted by an antisemitic attacker Thursday about a potential rise in threats against Jewish institutions just two days before the assault, the local sheriff told The Post on Friday.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he texted with the head of security at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield with some “information and ideas” about how to further protect the place of worship as fears grew over how recent violence in the Middle East could translate to local mayhem.
“So we were talking even before it happened, and we were very much on alert, so when it did happen, the security team immediately did what they were trained to do and what they needed to do, and they responded to the threat,” Bouchard said.
He said that along with the temple security leader, he was also in touch with the local police chief over “some relevant information about potential threats and the elevated possibility of things happening and everything they should be alert for.”
Lebanese-American Ayman Ghazali, 41, barreled his explosive-filled vehicle into one of the largest local Reform synagogues Thursday while about 106 children and 30 staffers were inside for early childhood classes, officials said.
Temple security guards exchanged fire with him before the car burst into flames.
Ghazali’s charred remains were found inside the car.
A security guard was hurt, and about 30 law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation, but no teachers nor kids were injured.
Leading up to the attack, Ghazali bought more than $2,000 worth of explosives at a fireworks store, NBC News reported.
Video provided to the outlet by Phantom Fireworks shows Ghazali walking around the store, where he spent about 45 minutes in.
The owner noted though a $2,000 is not lot to spend on fireworks.
Bouchard described the synagogue security as full-time staffers who are all “very proactive” and have past law enforcement experience.
“This particular temple had trained fairly recently, so the staff and security – who are former police officers – know what to do,” said Bouchard, who has been the county’s top cop for nearly three decades.
Ghazali targeted the synagogue in what officials said was an antisemitic attack. His hateful act came days after his two brothers, as well as a niece and nephew, were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.
The two brothers were members of Hezbollah, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
The region has been in deadly turmoil since American and Israeli forces launched airstrikes against Iran nearly two weeks ago.
While Bouchard was in touch with Temple Israel this week before the attack, he was talking with police chiefs in towns that had large Jewish centers around when the fighting in the Mideast began.
Bouchard, whose county faced high-profile shootings such as at Oxford High School in 2021 and Michigan State University in 2023, said law enforcement’s presence at Temple Israel will continue to be 24-7 “for the foreseeable future.
“In a terrible situation, we probably had the best outcome,” he said. “No kids and no staff injured or killed, and I’ve been to my fair share where that’s not the case.”
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