DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Officials in Dearborn Heights condemned the attack at Temple Israel and stressed unity after authorities confirmed the suspect has ties to their city.
During a press conference on Friday, March 13, Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun said authorities confirmed the suspect involved in Thursday’s attack at the West Bloomfield Township synagogue was a resident of Dearborn Heights. You can watch the full press conference in the video at the top of this article.
The suspect rammed a vehicle into the synagogue on Thursday, March 12, and exchanged gunfire with security personnel. The suspect died at the scene.
One member of the security team was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries after they were knocked unconscious when the suspect crashed into the building and caught fire. That security guard is expected to be okay.
No children or staff members at the Temple were injured. Eight first responders were taken to local hospitals to be treated after responding to the attack, according to Henry Ford Health.
Read more -->What we know about the suspect in the West Bloomfield temple attack
Baydoun acknowledged the fear such an attack can create for people entering a place of worship and offered support to the Jewish community.
“Our Jewish brothers and sisters deserve to worship without fear,” Baydoun said. “Children in any school, whether in West Bloomfield or Dearborn Heights or anywhere around the world, deserve to attend school without fear of any type of attack.”
Baydoun also said the suspect had recently experienced a significant personal tragedy overseas, noting that a recent Israeli airstrike on his family’s home in Lebanon killed two children.
“That grief is real, and it’s heartbreaking,” Baydoun said. “But let me be clear, that is not an excuse. These actions do not reflect our values as a city. This is not who we are. There is never an excuse for violence, especially violence directed at a sacred space.”
He warned that rising tensions abroad can affect communities locally and said the community cannot allow that to divide them or normalize harm.
In the past 24 hours, Baydoun said residents, school principals and business owners had contacted him to report incidents of hostile language and behavior that made them feel unsafe. He urged anyone experiencing threats or harassment to report it immediately to the police department.
The city’s police chief, Michael Guzowski, also spoke during the press conference and said his department is working closely with investigators following the attack, though the incident itself did not occur within city limits.
“First and foremost, I want to be clear this incident didn’t happen in our city,” Guzowski said. “However, because the individual maintains ties to our community, we take this matter very seriously.”
Guzowski said the department contacted law enforcement partners as soon as they learned of the suspect’s connection to Dearborn Heights and that the department is providing any relevant records or potential leads to investigating agencies.
He added that there is currently no credible information indicating an ongoing threat to Dearborn Heights residents related to the Temple Israel attack.
Still, the department has increased patrols around places of worship, schools and other gathering spaces across the city, ensuring every congregation and religion has the support they need, especially as the final days of Lent and Ramadan approach.
“One individual’s actions do not define our city or our values,” Guzowski said.
Both leaders urged residents to contact the police department if they experience any hostile language or behavior that makes them feel unsafe.