Temple Israel attack: FBI calls synagogue assault 'Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism'

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - The FBI called the Temple Israel attack in West Bloomfield Township a "Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism" after a man drove a vehicle into a synagogue in mid-March.

Federal officials said Ayman Mohammad Ghazali had purchased firearms, ammunition, and gasoline ahead of a planned attack on the synagogue. He fatally shot himself after exchanging gunfire with security officials. 

"We are very grateful that aside from the assailant, there were no additional fatalities. However, this evidence makes very clear the attacker intended to cause significant amounts of harm to the members and the children present at Temple Israel that day," said Jennifer Runyan, FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge.

Catching up:

Giving an update Monday afternoon, the FBI's special agent in charge and acting U.S. Attorney provided new details into the investigation, including classifying the attack as an act of terrorism.

"Had this man lived. I am convinced that my office would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the federal crime of providing material support to Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, under federal law," said Jerome Gorgon.

Federal officials do not believe anyone else was involved in the planning or execution of the attack. Instead, the suspect acted alone as a lone wolf.

‘Act of terrorism’

Prior to March 12, when the suspect drove his truck into the synagogue, his internet search history revealed a focus on content from Iran as well as posting references to violence on social media.

He first tried purchasing firearms from two people before being turned away. He then bought an AR-style rifle from a local gun shop along with 10 rifle magazines and approximately 300 rounds of .223 rifle ammunition.

He then bought a rifle magazine pouch and four 5.3-gallon containers. From there, he looked up firework vendors.

The next day, he continued searching for gatherings of Israeli citizens and concentrations of Jewish people. Later on March 10, he visited a gun range and tested his newly-purchased weapon before buying over $2,200-worth of fireworks.

On March 11, his activities continued online with references to carrying out "vengeance" and posting pro-Hezbollah and pro-Iranian content on social media. He also shared a photo with him holding a large rifle with the caption: "Burn their world, for we have a vendetta/revenge that we will never forget."

"His phone and videos were filled with their terrorist propaganda, including his deliberate use of Hezbollah," Gorgon said.

Final Post before attack

Just 10 minutes before the attack, the suspect two videos to his sister with a camera view of the synagogue parking lot, saying: "This is the largest gathering place for Israelis in the State of Michigan in the United States. I have booby-trapped the car. I will forcefully enter and start shooting at them. God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can."

In the second video, he sent a video that was only a few seconds long that had the message "A special operation."

The FBI said the suspect also called his ex-wife in Dearborn Heights multiple times before the attack. She then called the Dearborn Heights police department, requesting they do a welfare check.

What you can do:

The attack remains under investigation and if anyone has any other details they would like to provide the FBI, they can do so at this link: https://www.fbi.gov/westbloomfieldattack

The backstory:

Ghazali, 41, was armed and had a large quantity of commercial-grade fireworks and several jugs of flammable liquid believed to be gasoline at the time of the attack.

Daycare classes with children 5 years old and younger were being held at the time. No students or staff of the synagogue were injured except for a security guard who was hit by the truck and knocked unconscious. 

"I would like to commend the teachers and the staff who successfully evacuated the children during this attack," Runyan said. 

The Dearborn Heights man sat in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to noon, before ramming his truck into the southeast end of the synagogue at 12:19 p.m. striking a security guard in the process, said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, FBI.

Runyan said that Ghazali's truck was jammed into the hallway, and he could not get out. The man then started shooting through the windshield. He then traded shots through the back window with a security guard. 

"At approximately 12:22 p.m., a second security officer engaged Ghazali in a gunfight from the front of the vehicle, and soon thereafter, in Ghazali's vehicle the engine compartment catches on fire," Runyan said. "At some point during the gunfight, Ghazali suffers a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"In the bed of the truck, we found large quantities of commercial grade fireworks and several jugs of flammable liquid we believe to be gasoline, some of which has been consumed in the fire."

Dig deeper:

The motivation behind the attack is still under investigation but the Dearborn Heights mayor released a statement last night that Ghazali had lost several members of his own family, including his niece and nephew, in an Israeli attack at their home in Lebanon.

Officials said Ghazali was born in Lebanon in 1985 and entered the US on May 10, 2011, on an IR1 immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen.

Crime and Public SafetyWest Bloomfield Township