Michigan synagogue car-ramming suspect bought $2,000 worth of fireworks before attack

Michigan Synagogue Car-Ramming Suspect Purchased $2,000 in Fireworks Prior to Attack

Less than 48 hours before the antisemitic car-ramming attack at a synagogue near Detroit, federal investigators linked the incident to a man who had recently acquired nearly $2,000 in explosive materials. According to Phantom Fireworks, the company’s records show that Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, identified as the suspect, visited one of its stores in the Detroit region on March 10 at 1:39 p.m. and spent roughly 45 minutes there.

On Thursday, Ghazali allegedly drove a Ford F-150 into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, where a preschool was in session. The collision triggered a fire that engulfed the vehicle, but no children or staff were harmed. Ghazali, a resident of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, was later found dead at the scene. The FBI confirmed his involvement through forensic analysis, though initial suspicions were based on his presence at the synagogue and the burned truck.

Special Agent Jennifer Runyan of the Detroit field office noted that Ghazali had no prior criminal record, no weapons registered, and had not been under FBI scrutiny before. She highlighted that the attack is being classified as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. However, she also clarified that there is no evidence linking the Michigan incident to the deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, which was carried out by a former ISIS supporter.

“He certainly had no appearance of nervousness,” said Alan Zoldan, Phantom Fireworks’ executive vice president. The store employee who processed Ghazali’s purchase recalled the customer seemed calm, stating, “He was going to be celebrating Eid, you know, the end of the Ramadan.” Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday marking the conclusion of the fast, is set to occur next week.

Phantom Fireworks requires customers to present ID before making purchases, and the company shared its records with federal investigators via subpoena after the attack. Ghazali’s name and address were found in the store’s database, which helped confirm his identity. Investigators are examining possible connections between Ghazali and Hezbollah members in Lebanon, as he had been questioned multiple times about those ties since returning from abroad.

Local Michigan officials reported that Ghazali’s family was among those affected by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon last week. The strike killed two of his brothers, who were associated with Hezbollah, as well as his niece and nephew. Runyan stated this information is part of the ongoing FBI investigation. Meanwhile, the Oakland County Sheriff noted that 63 law enforcement officers required medical treatment due to smoke inhalation following the fire.