Kathmandu— Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, issued an apology on Saturday to the state’s Jewish Democratic Caucus for remarks he made after a March attack on a Detroit-area synagogue. El-Sayed's comments were seen by some as justifying the attacker's actions, and he addressed this at a party convention in Lansing.

Context of the Attack

In March, Ayman Mohammad Ghazali attacked Temple Israel synagogue in a Detroit suburb. He rammed his car into the building and opened fire on a security guard before taking his own life. Ghazali had lost four relatives in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon just days earlier.

El-Sayed's Response

In response to the attack, El-Sayed condemned it but also noted that 'hurt people hurt people,' a reference to Ghazali’s personal loss. This statement was criticized as potentially justifying the attacker’s actions.

Apology and Political Implications

El-Sayed addressed these criticisms by saying, “My comments may have been misconstrued to justify something I did not mean to justify.” He emphasized that he wanted to offer context but acknowledged it was not the right time. El-Sayed’s apology comes amid efforts to unify Democrats following a contentious primary and allegations of antisemitism.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.