FBI Confirms Detroit Synagogue Attack Linked to Hezbollah

Mon Mar 30 2026 21:36:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Ayman Ghazali's attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township reflects a troubling trend of violence linked to extremist organizations.

The FBI reported that Ayman Ghazali, who crashed his truck into a Detroit-area synagogue, was inspired by the militant group Hezbollah. The attack occurred on March 12, where Ghazali attempted to cause significant harm before fatally shooting himself. His ex-wife had warned authorities about his unstable state following the loss of family members during Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. This incident raises questions about escalating violence targeting religious institutions.

DETROIT (AP) — Ayman Ghazali, who crashed his pickup truck into a synagogue in the Detroit area earlier this month, had motives linked to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, according to the FBI.

On March 12, Ghazali made a video prior to the assault at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, expressing his intention to inflict maximum damage. Jennifer Runyan, head of the FBI's Detroit office, stated he aimed to harm as many people as possible.

The 41-year-old from Dearborn Heights waited in the synagogue's parking lot for several hours before driving his truck through closed doors, directly into a hallway designated for early childhood education, colliding with a security guard in the process.

Subsequently, he engaged in a gunfight with another guard before taking his own life. His pickup was filled with commercial-grade fireworks and containers of gasoline, sparking a fire during the altercation.

Fortunately, first responders ensured that all staff and 150 children remained unharmed in the incident.

Prior to the attack, Ghazali’s ex-wife alerted local police that he was in distress, reportedly suicidal after losing multiple family members due to an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. This bombing coincided with heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran that escalated starting February 28.

Reports indicate that Ghazali's brother, Ibrahim Ghazali, was a commander within Hezbollah, as noted by national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard during a Senate hearing.

Hezbollah, founded in the early 1980s during Lebanon's civil conflict, has a dual role as both a military organization and a political party, holding representation in the Lebanese parliament.

The targeted Temple Israel is a prominent Reform synagogue, noted for its progressive approach to issues such as social justice and gender equality. Established in 1941 in Detroit, it later moved to West Bloomfield and serves a congregation of over 12,000 members.

This attack is part of a larger concerning trend, highlighting a wave of violence against religious spaces that has caused widespread anxiety among various faith communities across the globe.