140 kids inside as Hezbollah-inspired attacker rams Michigan synagogue

The FBI has declared the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism.

The attacker, identified as Ayman Ghazali, 41, died by suicide after the assault, according to a source close to the situation.

Ghazali rammed a pickup truck loaded with fireworks and flammable liquid through the synagogue's doors.

Approximately 140 children were inside the building at the time of the attack.

The attacker then opened fire with an AR-style rifle.

A security guard was injured during the incident.

About 50 law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation after the truck's cargo ignited.

The FBI's designation of the attack as Hezbollah-inspired marks a significant shift in how the agency is categorizing the threat.

Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based militant group and political party designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department since 1997.

The group's ideology blends Shia Islamism with anti-Israel and anti-Western sentiment, and it has been linked to attacks on American targets abroad.

Domestic attacks inspired by Hezbollah's ideology are rare in the United States, making this case stand out to counterterrorism analysts.

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is now leading the investigation, per sources.

Federal investigators are examining Ghazali's digital footprint, travel history, and any known associates to determine how he became radicalized.

The attack occurred at Temple Israel, a Reform Jewish congregation in West Bloomfield, a suburb of Detroit with a significant Jewish population.

Michigan has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years, according to data from the Anti-Defamation League.

The state recorded 339 antisemitic incidents in 2024, up from 210 in 2023, per ADL reports.

Local law enforcement had increased patrols around houses of worship after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, but the Temple Israel assault still broke through.

The attacker's choice of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device — using fireworks and flammable liquid — mirrors tactics seen in Hezbollah's overseas operations, a person familiar with the matter said.

The FBI has not yet released a full profile of Ghazali or a definitive motive beyond the Hezbollah-inspired classification.

Questions remain about whether the attacker acted alone or was part of a broader network.

Federal prosecutors are expected to release more details as the investigation progresses.

The attack has reignited debate about security funding for houses of worship in the United States.

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides federal funds for physical security upgrades at faith-based institutions, received $305 million in fiscal year 2025.

Advocacy groups are calling for that amount to be increased in the next budget cycle.