Hezbollah-inspired attack at Michigan synagogue – here's what FBI found and reveals suspect’s planning

Hezbollah link Michigan synagogue attack: Investigators say the attack on a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, earlier this month was not a random act, but a planned and targeted incident that could have been far more deadly.

FBI calls West Bloomfield synagogue attack targeted terrorism

According to the FBI, the March 12 attack was a “Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism” aimed at the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in the state, as per a report.

Authorities said the suspect, Ayman Ghazali, a naturalized US citizen from Lebanon, waited in the synagogue’s parking lot for more than two hours before acting, as per a CNN report.


At the time, more than 100 children were inside attending school. Ghazali then drove a pickup truck into the building, striking a security officer before the vehicle became lodged in a hallway.

Hezbollah-inspired attack targets Jewish community: Explosives found in vehicle used in attack

Security officers responded quickly, exchanging gunfire with him. The situation ended when Ghazali shot and killed himself inside the truck.

During the incident, the vehicle’s engine compartment caught fire, causing extensive damage. Officials later said the truck contained explosives and flammable liquid believed to be gasoline, as per the CNN report.

Security officer injured during synagogue attack

Despite the scale of the attack, no one else was killed. One lead security officer was injured after being hit by the vehicle.

No accomplices found in West Bloomfield incident

Authorities said there is no evidence that Ghazali had any accomplices. If he had survived, he would have faced charges of providing material support to Hezbollah. US Attorney Jerome Gorgon said, “This man acted under Hezbollah’s direction and control,” Gorgon said. “He intended to kill others, not just himself,” as quoted by CNN.

Links to Hezbollah investigated in Michigan case

In the days following the attack, officials said Ghazali had been listed in federal databases with connections to individuals linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

They also pointed to events leading up to the incident. A week before the attack, members of his family in Lebanon, including two brothers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike during a period of conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. One of his brothers, Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali, was identified by the Israeli military as a Hezbollah commander responsible for weapons operations in the group’s Badr unit.

FBI uncovers suspect’s online activity before attack

The FBI said planning for the attack began days in advance and intensified around March 9. A review of Ghazali’s online activity showed repeated searches for pro-Hezbollah and Iranian news, along with content related to gunfire and ammunition, as per the CNN report.

Around the same time, he was closely following speeches and coverage involving Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, as well as reports about a religious ruling calling for action against the US military.

FAQs

What happened at the West Bloomfield synagogue?
A man drove a truck into the building and exchanged gunfire before taking his own life.

Who was the suspect?
Ayman Ghazali, a naturalized US citizen originally from Lebanon.