Federal investigators said Monday that the man who crashed his pickup into a Michigan synagogue earlier this month was inspired and radicalized by Iran‑backed terrorist group Hezbollah and reportedly sought to kill as many Jewish people as he could. 

Officials noted that Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, who attempted to launch a full-scale, mass-casualty assault on March 12, deliberately targeted a location filled with more than 100 children in West Bloomfield before he was fatally shot by officers. Local officials previously reported that the assault came after several of his family members were killed in Lebanon during the country’s war with Israel.

In the days leading up to the attack, Ghazali allegedly rigged his truck with booby traps, fireworks, explosives, and large amounts of gasoline. Just before ramming the building, he reportedly sat in the Temple Israel parking lot and sent videos to his sister in Lebanon — some showing him holding a weapon while listening to upbeat militant battle anthems.

“This is the largest gathering of Israelis in the state of Michigan in the United States. I have booby trapped the car. I will forcibly enter and start shooting them. God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can,” he said in one of the videos, according to the FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyon. 

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James Gorgon, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, added that had the attacker survived, he would have been charged with providing “material support” to Hezbollah for effectively providing himself as the weapon aimed at Michigan’s largest Jewish temple.

According to investigators, Ghazali reportedly consumed pro-Hezbollah and Iranian militant propaganda for months leading up to the attack, ultimately planning what he called a “special operation” aimed at causing mass casualties.

He allegedly created a Facebook album titled “Vengeance,” filled with images of Hezbollah leaders and militant quotes, and also sent his sister a photo of an Israeli flag covered up with yellow paint, a color often used to represent loyalty and sacrifice to Hezbollah. 

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“You killed the Ali and Hussein of our time. We will avenge their blood,” one of his Facebook status posts said hours before the attack, referencing the overseas deaths of his family members.

“We will seek retribution for their sacred blood,” another post said. “Israel is a cancerous, malignant growth. Israel is pure evil and the oppressors will soon know what kind of end they will meet.”

Within three days prior to the attack, Ghazali researched local synagogues, targeting what he called “the largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan,” according to the officials. He reportedly purchased an AR-style rifle, 300 rounds of ammunition, and more than $2,200 worth of fireworks.

He filled collapsible containers with roughly 35 gallons of gasoline across multiple trips to use as an explosive accelerant in his truck, adding fireworks to booby-trap the vehicle before ramming it into the synagogue.

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Officials added that just minutes before launching the attack, Ghazali sat in the Temple Israel parking lot and sent his sister in Lebanon 19 videos, photos and messages affirming his commitment to a mass terrorist plan.

During the attack, the suspect ultimately exchanged gunfire with synagogue security and ignited the explosives inside his vehicle after ramming into the temple doors at a high speed. 

While the assailant acted alone, officials emphasized that he methodically followed Hezbollah’s propaganda directives to carry out the violence.

“I’ve seen some odd attempts to explain away or even lessen this terrorist attack by claiming that he was an isolated lone wolf, but that is misleading,” Gorgon said. “Terrorist propaganda is designed to activate the so-called lone wolf to act on behalf of the terrorist organization.”

“I am convinced that my office would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the federal crime of providing material support to Hezbollah,” he added. 

Officials noted that the attacker was not on any terrorist watch list and had never been the subject of an FBI investigation before the attack.

No evidence of co-conspirators or ongoing threats were found, investigators said. 

“We stand firmly with our Jewish community. We remain unwavering in our commitment to protect them and all members of our community, from those who seek to do harm,” West Bloomfield Police Chief Dale Young said. 

The 2026 NFL owners meetings in Phoenix are underway, and among the discussions is bound to be whether an 18th regular-season game should be added to the schedule at some point. 

Two owners, New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft and Indianapolis Colts’ Carlie Irsay-Gordon, are all for it. 

However, there is a key caveat Kraft would be in place. 

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Kraft reportedly told media in Phoenix that he is in favor of an 18th regular-season game, but he wants there to be a second bye week for teams instead of the standard one week. 

Also, Kraft’s “conditions,” according to The33rdTeam’s Ari Meirov was removing one preseason game, which brings the total to two per season, and making every single NFL team play at least one international game each season. 

As for Irsay-Gordon, she pointed to the fact that not every team gets an even number of home games in today’s NFL under a 17-game schedule. But she also agrees with Kraft that preseason should be shortened. 

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“Preseason, is, as far as the fan product goes, I know the commissioner’s been open that it’s not the best product that we have,” she explained, per the Indianapolis Star. “I would say, for development of our team, I don’t think we can get rid of it.”

While owners want it, the NFL Players’ Association noted at the Super Bowl earlier this year that their side has “no appetite” for an 18th regular-season game. 

Now that JC Tretter was elected the PA’s executive director, negotiations about an 18th game, as well as a new media rights contract, could be ongoing. While the TV deal could be changed before the start of the 2026 season, Pro Football Talk reported that some support for the league to implement an 18th game could come as soon as the 2027 campaign. 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has noted in the past that the 18th game is “not a given,” though owners like Kraft, Irsay, and likely others see it coming sooner than later. 

Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins said in a recent interview to Fox News Digital that he feels “it’s going to happen either way.”

He just wants to make sure players like himself are taken care of properly if that is the case, especially from a financial lens.

“Our contracts aren’t fully guaranteed. There’s good players, there’s average players, there’s players that are just making it by. As long as guys are taken care of the way they’re supposed to, this is our life. We’re athletes, and not that I’m here for it, it’s going to happen either way – [an] 18th game. And then 20 years later, guess what? We’re talking about a 19th, then we’ll be talking about a 20th.… Then it’s like, ‘Yeah, we are combat athletes all year long.’ But who knows.”

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Over a dozen teenagers were reportedly taken into custody after video shows a fight breaking out outside a Wisconsin mall over the weekend during a viral “takeover” event. 

The incident unfolded after a series of social media posts advertising a “takeover” event at the Bayshore Mall in Glendale went viral, according to WTMJ. 

Officers with the Glendale Police Department were already on scene due to reports of a takeover being planned, and authorities were reportedly working alongside mall management to enhance security and provide a larger police presence on the day of the event.

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Despite the increased police presence, hundreds of teens reportedly descended on the mall Sunday afternoon, causing several fights to break out throughout the area. 

“We’re just trying to assist in prevention,” community leader Vaun Mayes said, according to WTMJ. “There’s been talk online of takeovers here and also at Mayfair. We just want to help security, police, and businesses to alleviate that as best we can.”

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One video appears to show a group of youngsters jeering as a fight breaks out outside a Kohl’s department store, with one individual appearing to be shoved through the business’ front doors. 

“Oh my God,” one witness can be heard shouting as the group of teenagers appeared to shove each other outside the store’s entrance while dozens of spectators film the altercation.

TEEN MOBS SWARM DOWNTOWN IN CHAOTIC TAKEOVER—FIGHTS ERUPT, CARS TARGETED BEFORE CURFEW CRACKDOWN HITS

Another video shows a group of hooded teens running amok throughout the shopping plaza, throwing punches and fleeing from police as authorities attempted to restore order, according to video obtained by WTMJ. 

Authorities said 13 individuals were taken into custody on charges ranging from disorderly conduct and battery to resisting an officer, the outlet reported.

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“There’s gotta be something more formal to prevent this entirely — programming, support, hopefully businesses involved,” Mayes said, according to WTMJ.

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Bayshore Mall previously posted a reminder to the public regarding its parental guidance policy, which requires anyone under 17 to be accompanied by an adult when visiting the shopping center Friday through Sunday after 3 p.m., according to WTMJ.

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The incident comes as viral “takeover” events publicized on social media are making headlines across the country, with organizers inviting minors to gather in a public area without consulting police or local officials. 

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“It’s getting warm, and these are issues that happen all the time,” Mayes said, according to WTMJ. “And we just gotta get ahead of it.”

The Glendale Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Jesse Watson contributed to this report.