The FBI confirmed on Monday, March 30, 2026, that the attack carried out against the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, was a terrorist act inspired by Hezbollah. The attack occurred on March 12, when 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed the religious facility with a van. During the assault, the suspect was shot dead by authorities in an exchange of gunfire.
FBI Special Agent in Detroit, Jennifer Runyan, indicated that Ghazali had been researching Jewish centers in the region while acquiring equipment to carry out the attack. “We can affirm that the incident was a terrorist act aimed at attacking the Jewish community,” emphasized Runyan. Reports indicated that the suspect had been consuming pro-Hezbollah content and that, minutes before the attack, he sent a video to his sister expressing his intention to “kill as many of them as possible.” Despite his intentions, the FBI noted that Ghazali was not under surveillance and was not listed on terrorism watchlists in the United States.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the attack, stating that “the Jewish community must be able to live and practice their faith in peace.” The situation has led to an increase in security presence at Jewish facilities in the area.
