Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed apologized Monday on CNN’s The Source for his earlier remarks about an attack on Temple Israel.

He told host Kaitlan Collins the apology came six months later after he traveled Michigan and heard how the comments had hurt people. He said he never meant to inflict that harm and that he owns mistakes.

El-Sayed said he grew up in the neighborhood around the temple, attended coming-of-age ceremonies there, and values those relationships. He added that he now understands the remarks were not what listeners wanted at the time.