FBI: Synagogue Attacker Was Inspired by Hezbollah

Federal investigators say a violent assault on a synagogue in Michigan earlier this month was driven by extremist beliefs connected to Hezbollah, with the attacker intending to kill as many Jewish people as possible.

Speaking at a news conference Monday, FBI officials identified the suspect as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali. Authorities say Ghazali drove his truck into the entrance of a preschool area at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on March 12. According to the FBI, the attack was motivated by ideology aligned with Hezbollah, a group the United States classifies as a terrorist organization.

Jennifer Runyan, the head of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said investigators reached that determination after carefully examining the evidence collected during the investigation. She explained that Ghazali recorded a video shortly before carrying out the attack and sent it to his sister.

In the recording, which was spoken in Arabic, Ghazali claimed the location was the largest gathering place for Israelis in Michigan. He also said the vehicle had been rigged and that he intended to force his way into the building and open fire, stating he hoped to kill as many people there as he could.

Investigators say Ghazali had spent significant time consuming online material that promoted Hezbollah and Iranian state media. He reportedly watched videos of armed clashes and maintained a folder on Facebook labeled “Vengance.” Authorities also say he researched Jewish facilities across Michigan and obtained a firearm before the attack.

According to the FBI, Ghazali packed his truck with gasoline and a large supply of commercial fireworks before crashing into the synagogue’s preschool section. A security guard was injured during the incident. Officials say Ghazali exchanged gunfire with security personnel before taking his own life. No children or school employees were harmed.

Runyan said investigators have found no indication that Ghazali had help from anyone in the area, though the investigation remains active.

Police in Dearborn Heights also received a 911 call from Ghazali’s ex-wife shortly before the attack, reporting that he appeared mentally unstable, authorities said.

Ghazali was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States in 2011. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016. Officials noted that several members of his family were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike days before the attack. Authorities say the strike killed two of his brothers, including one whom Israel has identified as a Hezbollah commander.

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