Exclusive Footage Reveals Detroit Synagogue Attacker's Chilling Intentions
The Lebanese-born man accused of crashing a vehicle packed with explosives into a synagogue outside Detroit earlier this month shot a chilling video from the parking lot moments before the attack, the Daily Mail has exclusively learned. In the footage, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old naturalized US citizen, declared his intention to carry out mass murder at what he described as the largest gathering spot for Israelis in Michigan on March 12.
Video Evidence and Terrorist Links
The Daily Mail can now share a screenshot from the video showing the stern-faced suspect outside Temple Israel, sporting a keffiyeh around his neck with his finger on the trigger of a high-powered weapon. This evidence is part of a trove leading federal authorities to conclude this was a terrorist attack. The source who provided the video said the screen grab is from footage of Ghazali playing ‘Hatha al-Sha’b ilayka nidaa,’ a revolutionary anthem in the Arab world which translates to: ’This people is a call to you.’
The chant praises martyrs who die for their cause and includes a shoutout to southern Lebanon and Hezbollah, the terrorist group based there. Ghazali displayed the weapon at the end of the video and declared, ‘We rely on God.’ He then shot a second video playing a chant that supports the bombing of enemies and attacks on their fortresses.
Communications and Ideology
Ghazali sent nearly two dozen images and messages to his sister in Lebanon that morning, sharing his Hezbollah-inspired ideology, references to martyrdom, and his commitment to attack what he described as Israelis. In reality, the target was a reform synagogue of mostly Jewish Americans. He also posted a meme entitled ‘Vengeance,’ with the message: ’There is no need to learn Hebrew anymore.’
The Daily Mail also obtained a photo of Ghazali at a gun range two days before the attack, showing him in a black jacket, wearing ear plugs as he stared down the barrel of a rifle. Fox News had released one photo of the shooter taken days before the attack, showing him posing with the rifle, which was also sent to his sister.
Attack Details and Aftermath
Authorities said Ghazali drove almost 40 miles from his home in Dearborn Heights to the synagogue complex, which includes a preschool and childcare center. More than 140 children, teachers, and staff members were inside at the time. Ghazali rammed a truck through the building's entrance before security guards opened fire. The attacker eventually shot himself after becoming trapped in the vehicle as it caught on fire, filled with commercial-grade fireworks and several jugs of gasoline.
Miraculously, no children were harmed, but one security guard was injured at the scene. The gunman lost four family members—two brothers, a niece, and a nephew—in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon shortly before he attacked the synagogue, authorities confirmed.
Background and Investigation
Ghazali lived in a $315,600 home in nearby Dearborn Heights and worked at Hamido, a popular Middle Eastern eatery, where regulars say he was the 'face of the restaurant.' The evidence, including photos, videos, and messages, has been crucial in the ongoing federal investigation, solidifying the classification of this incident as a terrorist act motivated by extremist ideologies.
