WEST BLOOMFIELD (WWJ) -- Federal authorities are characterizing the attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township as an act of terror.
That's according to Jennifer Runyan, FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge, who briefed reporters on the investigation on Monday.
Specifically, Runyan said the attacker, a Dearborn Heights resident, was inspired by the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah.
"Based on the evidence gathered to date, we assess this attack to be a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism, purposely targeting the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in Michigan," Runyan said.
"The FBI defines terrorism as a violent criminal act by an individual who is inspired by or associated with a designated foreign terrorist organization," Runyan said. "We do not make this characterization lightly without a thorough review and keen evaluation of the facts. In this case, the evidence shows the attacker was motivated and inspired by Hezbollah's militant ideology."
Runyan said the evidence shows Ayman Ghazali, 41, began planning the attack in earnest on March 9, buying weapons and fireworks, doing online research, and Googling potential targets using search terms like "the largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan."
But it went back further than that.
"A review of his online activity since January 2026 revealed a reoccurring search history of pro-Hezbollah news channels, Iranian news channels, and videos about shootouts and bullets," Runyan said.
Ghazali made a video before the attack, Runyan said, saying he wanted to “kill as many of them as I possibly can."
On March 12, the FBI said Ghazali sat in the parking lot outside the building for a few hours before he smashing his F-150 pickup truck through the doors and into the hallway, near the synagogue's early childhood education center.
The FBI said there was a shootout between Ghazal and a security guard, before Ghazal shot and killed himself.
The pickup, which was stocked with commercial-grade fireworks and jugs of gasoline, caught fire.
There was a massive law enforcement response, and the building was quickly evacuated.
There were 140 children inside the center at the time of the attack. Remarkably, none of the kids or teachers were hurt. A security guard who was hit by the attacker's vehicle had some injuries, and multiple first responders who fought the fire were treated for smoke inhalation.
Runyan said Ghazali had no previous criminal history and was not on the terror watch list.
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The incident is being characterized as a terror attack
