The Federal Bureau of Investigation says an assault on a synagogue in West Bloomfield was a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism aimed at the Jewish community.
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Officials said the attacker, Ayman Ghazali, drove a pickup truck into the building on March 12 while more than 100 children were attending classes inside. The synagogue, Temple Israel, is the largest Jewish temple in the state.
Authorities said Ghazali waited in the parking lot for more than two hours before accelerating the vehicle deep into the building. The truck struck a security officer before becoming stuck inside a hallway.
Attack Targets Major Jewish Temple
Armed security personnel then exchanged gunfire with the attacker. Ghazali ultimately shot himself inside the vehicle.
During the confrontation, the truck’s engine compartment caught fire and caused major damage to the building.
Investigators said the vehicle contained more than $2,000 worth of commercial fireworks and roughly 35 gallons of gasoline intended to intensify an explosion.
No one else was killed. One security officer was injured after being hit by the vehicle.
Authorities Say Attacker Acted Alone
Investigators say there is no indication Ghazali worked with accomplices.
Officials said that if he had survived, he would have faced charges of providing material support to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon.
Prosecutors said the suspect appeared motivated by propaganda linked to the group.
“This man acted under Hezbollah’s direction and control,” said Jerome Gorgon, US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, adding that the attacker intended to kill others during the assault.
In the days following the incident, US authorities found that Ghazali appeared in federal databases as having connections to individuals linked to suspected Hezbollah operatives.
Family Deaths and Online Activity
Investigators also pointed to developments in Lebanon shortly before the attack.
A week earlier, several members of Ghazali’s family were killed during an Israeli airstrike amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces said one of the men killed, Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali, served as a Hezbollah commander responsible for weapons operations in the group’s Badr unit.
Officials said the suspect’s online activity showed increasing interest in pro-Hezbollah and Iranian media outlets in the weeks before the attack.
Planning in the Days Before
According to investigators, preparations intensified around March 9.
Authorities said Ghazali searched for information on Jewish cultural and religious institutions across the Detroit metropolitan area. He also reviewed event listings for Temple Israel and searched phrases including “the largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan” and “Orthodox synagogues.”
After two attempted gun purchases failed, Ghazali bought an AR-style rifle, ten magazines and around 300 rounds of ammunition from a store in Dearborn Heights.
Investigators said he practiced shooting the weapon the following day and purchased fireworks.
On March 11, the day before the attack, dozens of water containers were delivered to his home. Authorities said he filled them with gasoline, making several trips to gas stations to avoid raising suspicion. He also bought two torch lighters, which investigators believe were used to ignite the vehicle.
Minutes before driving into the synagogue, Ghazali sent videos and messages to his sister in Lebanon describing his plan.
According to investigators, he said he had booby-trapped his vehicle and intended to enter the synagogue and open fire on people inside.
FBI Investigation Continues
The FBI said the attacker appeared to act alone but was driven by extremist ideology linked to Hezbollah.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing as officials review the suspect’s contacts, communications and online activity.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 31 March 2026
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