Crime
ICE Tear Gas Canister Strikes Family Vehicle in Minneapolis, Six Children Hurt, Including Infant, Taken to Hospital
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Emergency responders and community members reported a distressing incident during ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity in south Minneapolis, involving the use of tear gas and other crowd-control tactics by federal agents and resulting in injuries to several civilians, including children.
According to local witnesses and media reports, after a federal law enforcement operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier in the week, tensions remained high in the surrounding neighborhood.
In one reported episode, residents attempting to leave an area where tear gas was being deployed sought to escape the effects of the chemical agents by entering a vehicle.
As tear gas canisters spread through nearby streets, a family with multiple children, including infants and young minors, was forced to shelter inside their car.
A tear gas canister reportedly landed under or near the vehicle, causing widespread irritation and breathing difficulties for those inside.
Emergency services were called, and some family members — including the children — were taken by ambulance for medical evaluation after experiencing breathing issues.
One infant was reported to have experienced breathing distress and received emergency medical attention.
Reports from bystanders indicated that parents administered first aid at the scene, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a young child, before paramedics arrived.
Witness accounts describe the situation as chaotic but nonviolent on the part of the civilians, with several families attempting simply to leave the area as federal agents used tear gas and less-lethal munitions.
Those accounts state that no active threat to officers was present at the time the gas was deployed near the family vehicle.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement confirming the specific details of this encounter or whether federal agents intended to target the vehicle.
The Minneapolis Police Department and federal agencies involved in the operation have not publicly corroborated all aspects of the civil accounts, and the situation remains under review by local law enforcement.
Officials continue to investigate multiple related events unfolding in Minneapolis, including other recent uses of force by federal agents.
Local health officials and emergency responders are urging anyone affected by tear gas exposure to seek medical attention.
Community leaders have called for a thorough and transparent review of federal crowd-control tactics and their impact on bystanders, particularly children and other vulnerable individuals.
As investigators continue working to piece together the events surrounding the Temple Israel incident in West Bloomfield, the man believed to be connected to the attack has been identified by sources as Ayman Ghazali.
The suspect died following reports of an active shooter at the synagogue, where police say a truck crashed into the building and shots were fired, triggering a large emergency response from local law enforcement and federal agencies.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Ghazali had recently experienced a family tragedy overseas. Two of his brothers and several nephews were reportedly killed days earlier in an Israeli strike in Mashaghara, Lebanon.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the suspect’s identity and have not said whether the deaths of Ghazali’s relatives played any role in the incident in West Bloomfield.
Authorities in Michigan are investigating a serious attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township that occurred Thursday afternoon.
According to multiple law enforcement sources, the vehicle involved in the incident is registered to a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Lebanon who resides in Dearborn, Michigan.
The incident began just after 12:30 p.m., when a suspect drove a truck into the synagogue, reportedly driving down a hallway inside the building.
A security guard on site engaged the suspect, opening fire.
The truck subsequently caught fire, and law enforcement confirmed the suspect is deceased.
The security guard was struck by the vehicle and is currently hospitalized. No injuries have been reported among congregants, staff, or students.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard stated that a lead member of the synagogue’s security team was hit when the suspect breached the building, but emphasized that there were no other injuries among staff or children.
Henry Ford Health confirmed that eight first responders were treated at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital following the incident.
Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area as they continue their investigation. In addition, law enforcement agencies are providing increased security at other local synagogues out of an abundance of caution.
The Jewish Federation of North America has issued a nationwide advisory urging all Jewish organizations to implement immediate lockout procedures to secure facilities.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that FBI personnel are on the scene, working alongside state and local partners in response to the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation.
Temple Israel released a statement on Facebook confirming that all 140 students at its childhood center, as well as teachers and staff, are accounted for and safe.
The synagogue praised its security personnel for confronting the suspect and expressed gratitude to the Shenandoah Country Club for sheltering students and staff following the attack. The statement also commended local police for their swift response.