Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, drove an explosives-laden vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and died of a self-inflicted gunshot after firing through the windshield; one security officer was injured and dozens of personnel were treated for smoke inhalation. Officials say Ghazali appears in U.S. federal databases as having contacts with individuals suspected of ties to Hezbollah, though he is not listed as a member. Investigators recovered commercial-grade fireworks and jugs of flammable liquid from the vehicle and obtained surveillance footage of a recent fireworks purchase. Federal authorities are continuing a detailed probe into motives, phone contacts, travel history and physical evidence.
Michigan Synagogue Attack: Suspect Reported In U.S. Databases For Contacts With Suspected Hezbollah Members, Officials Say
A police vehicle sits outside the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, on Friday. - Paul Sancya/AP
The man who drove an explosives-laden vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, has been identified as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, authorities said. The vehicle caught fire after ramming the synagogue in what the FBI described as a "targeted act of violence against the Jewish community." Investigators from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security continue to probe the attack.
How the Incident Unfolded
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the Detroit field office said Ghazali died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the vehicle after ramming the building. According to Runyan, Ghazali fired a weapon through the windshield and two security officers returned fire. One security officer sustained injuries, and at least 30 law enforcement personnel were treated for smoke inhalation.
Background Checks and Reported Contacts
Law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told reporters that Ghazali appears in federal databases that flag contacts with "known or suspected terrorists" associated with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Officials emphasized that those records do not list him as a Hezbollah member. DHS records show Ghazali last traveled from the U.S. to Lebanon in 2019 and was flagged on reentry through Atlanta under a "threshold targeting" indicator tied to prior contacts.
During a 2019 interview with Customs and Border Protection, Ghazali said he traveled abroad for a hair transplant. CBP agents inspected his phone and found contacts who were known or suspected to have ties to Hezbollah, officials said. Authorities have not publicly detailed the identities of those contacts or the nature of any relationships.
Family Losses and Possible Motive Context
Officials and local leaders noted recent family losses that may be relevant to the investigation. Iskandar Barakeh, mayor of Mashghara, Lebanon, told reporters that two of Ghazali’s brothers, Kassim and Ibrahim, and two of Ibrahim’s children, Ali and Fatima, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 5. Barakeh said other family members were injured. Mo Baydoun, mayor of Dearborn Heights (where Ghazali lived), also confirmed Ghazali had lost relatives in the conflict and condemned the attack on a house of worship.
Evidence Recovered
Investigators recovered large quantities of what they described as "commercial-grade fireworks" and several jugs of flammable liquid believed to be gasoline from the truck used in the attack. Two days before the incident, Ghazali bought $2,250 worth of fireworks at a Phantom Fireworks store in Livonia, Michigan. Store surveillance footage of the purchase was obtained by investigators and later sought under a federal grand jury subpoena.
Personal and Immigration Details
According to DHS, Ghazali emigrated from Lebanon to the United States in 2011 on a visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen and became a naturalized citizen in 2016. Court records show his wife filed for divorce in August 2024 and the divorce was finalized in March 2025. Local sources said Ghazali worked at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Dearborn Heights.
Ongoing Investigation
Federal and local authorities are continuing their inquiry into motives, contacts, travel history, electronic evidence and items recovered from the scene. The FBI and DHS are leading elements of the investigation; officials said they have collected phone records, surveillance video and physical evidence from the vehicle and site.
Note: Authorities have cautioned against speculation while the investigation continues. Information released publicly reflects details confirmed by law enforcement officials and local leaders.
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