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A man who rammed a vehicle into a Michigan synagogue earlier this month carried out a Hezbollah-inspired terrorist attack, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed on Monday, formally classifying the incident as terrorism following its investigation..
The attacker, 41-year-old Ayman Ghalazi, targeted Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, the largest synagogue in Michigan, on March 12. He drove a truck loaded with incendiary materials into the building before opening fire. He killed himself during a gunfight with on-site security. A preschool was in session at the time, and all children and staff escaped safely.
Investigators found that the attack was deliberate and prepared in advance. In the days leading up to it, Ghalazi searched for Jewish institutions and phrases such as “the largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan” and “Israelis near me,” while reviewing activity at the synagogue. He also attempted to obtain weapons online before purchasing a rifle, ammunition, and additional materials used in the attack.
Authorities identified extensive online activity demonstrating explicit ideological alignment with Hezbollah, including engagement with its propaganda and messaging tied to the Iranian regime. In communications before the attack, Ghalazi expressed support for Hezbollah and made clear his intent to carry out mass violence.
Minutes before the attack, he wrote that he would “forcefully enter and start shooting” and “kill as many of them as I possibly can.”
While Ghalazi had recently lost relatives in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, investigators emphasized that the attack was the result of sustained radicalization and planning.
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