The FBI says the man behind a vehicle-ramming attack at Temple Israel earlier this month was motivated
By Sammy,
The FBI says the man behind a vehicle-ramming attack at Temple Israel earlier this month was motivated by ideology tied to Hezbollah. Officials determined the assault deliberately targeted the Jewish community, citing evidence gathered through a detailed investigation.
According to authorities, 41-year-old Ayman Ghazali recorded a video prior to the attack in which he expressed a desire to kill as many people as possible. Jennifer Runyan, who heads the FBI's Detroit field office, said investigators concluded the act was inspired by Hezbollah's militant ideology, noting that Ghazali had regularly consumed online content linked to Iran and Hezbollah, including speeches and updates from the group's leader, Naim Qassem.
Additional information pointed to a personal connection, with the IDF indicating that Ghazali's brother was a Hezbollah commander, confirming earlier reports. Investigators say this, along with his online activity, contributed to their assessment of the attacker's motivations.
On March 12, Ghazali remained in the synagogue parking lot for several hours before driving his pickup truck through the building's entrance and into a hallway used for early childhood education, striking a security guard. He then exchanged gunfire with another guard before fatally shooting himself. The vehicle, a Ford F-150 loaded with gasoline containers and commercial-grade fireworks, caught fire during the confrontation. Emergency crews evacuated the site, and despite roughly 150 children and staff being present, no additional injuries were reported.
Topics: Iran, Lebanon & Hezbollah, IDF
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.