Federal authorities say the 12 March truck attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, was a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. The accused attacker, Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, a naturalised United States citizen from Lebanon, drove his vehicle into the synagogue while dozens of children were inside. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A security guard was injured and several officers were treated for smoke inhalation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Ghazali’s online activity showed repeated searches for pro-Hezbollah content and large gatherings of Israelis in Michigan. Investigators also found he had researched weapons, violent confrontations and an Iranian religious decree calling for total jihad against the United States military. In the days before the attack, he purchased a rifle, ammunition, fireworks, torch lighters and gasoline.

Authorities said Ghazali sent messages and videos expressing his intent to carry out a mass attack shortly before ramming the building and exchanging gunfire with security guards. Officials found no evidence of co-conspirators, and he had not previously been on the agency’s watch list. Prosecutors said he would have faced charges of providing material support to Hezbollah had he survived.