The FBI has labeled the early March attack on a Michigan synagogue as an act of terrorism inspired by Hezbollah. The assault targeted the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in Michigan, raising national security concerns and highlighting the ongoing threat of extremist groups in the United States. Authorities continue to investigate the attack as part of a broader crackdown on domestic and international terrorism threats.
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#FBI #Hezbollah #SynagogueAttack #MichiganNews #JewishTemple #Terrorism #BreakingNews #USNews #NationalSecurity #ActOfTerror
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NewsTranscript
00:00Based on the evidence gathered to date, we assess this attack to be a Hezbollah-inspired
00:05act of terrorism purposely targeting the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in
00:11Michigan.
00:12The FBI defines terrorism as a violent criminal act by an individual who is inspired by or
00:19associated with a designated foreign terrorist organization.
00:23We do not make this characterization lightly without a thorough review and keen evaluation
00:29of the facts.
00:32Our hearts continue to be with the community as they heal from this attack, especially
00:37the Temple Israel security team, its staff, teachers and family.
00:42The FBI continues to support these victims through our online virtual victim assistance
00:47center, which can be found at www.FBI.gov forward slash West Bloomfield victims, plural.
00:57This website provides a host of resources still available to anyone who has been impacted by
01:03this attack.
01:04The purpose of today's press conference is to provide the investigative findings as well
01:10as a timeline into the motive of this attack against the Jewish community at Temple Israel
01:16Israel on March 12th.
01:18From the outset, this has been a full-scale investigation with our special agents, intelligence analysts,
01:24linguists, digital forensic examiners, evidence response team members, our professional staff
01:31and our special agent bomb techs to work around the clock in close coordination with our law enforcement
01:36partners.
01:37Despite the fire in the truck and the assailant's attempts to delete his digital footprint, we have
01:43processed hundreds of digital and forensic evidence items.
01:46We have conducted over a hundred interviews of witnesses, family and associates.
01:53We also continue to work with our foreign partners to receive any information that would shed light
01:58on the activities of the assailant or any threats currently here in Michigan.
02:03Based on the evidence gathered to date, we assess this attack to be a Hezbollah-inspired act
02:09of terrorism, purposely targeting the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in Michigan.
02:16The FBI defines terrorism as a violent criminal act by an individual who is inspired by or associated
02:23with a designated foreign terrorist organization.
02:27We do not make this characterization lightly without a thorough review and keen evaluation of the facts.
02:33In this case, the evidence shows the attacker was motivated and inspired by Hezbollah's militant ideology.
02:42Although the assailant's attack planning and mobilization to violence began in earnest on March 9th, which I will fully detail
02:48here shortly,
02:49a review of his online activity since January 2020 revealed a reoccurring search history of pro-Hezbollah news channels, Iranian
02:58news channels and videos about shootouts and bullets.
03:03He regularly consumed breaking news and statements and live coverage of the current secretary general of Hezbollah, Naim Qasim, and
03:12viewed news coverage about an Iranian fatwa for total jihad against the U.S. military.
03:19Beginning on March 9th, during the early mornings, the assailant started viewing web pages of local synagogues, and in the
03:26afternoon, he attempted to purchase a weapon from two different individuals, both of whom we've identified and interviewed.
03:33After those people denied his request, he then purchased an AR-style rifle at a local gun store in Dearborn
03:40Heights, along with 10 rifle magazines and approximately 300 rounds of .223 rifle ammunition.
03:49While he was at the gun store, he ordered a rifle magazine pouch as well as 40 5.3-gallon
03:57water containers from an online store.
04:01After that gun store, he then began researching locations for local fireworks vendors.
04:06Throughout the night of March 9th, the assailant began visiting numerous different web pages of Jewish cultural, educational, and religious
04:15centers all throughout the Detroit metro area, and even viewed multiple pages of upcoming events at Temple Israel.
04:23During the morning and early morning of March 10th, he continued his online searches with specific search terms and phrases
04:29such as the largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan, Orthodox synagogues, Israelis near me, what time is the Trump rally
04:39in Michigan, as well as a center affiliated with the Israeli embassy in Michigan.
04:45He later attempted to try and delete these queries, but we were able to recover them.
04:50At approximately 1 p.m. on March 10th, the assailant visited a local shooting range and practiced shooting his new
04:57weapon.
04:58He then drove to the local fireworks vendor that he researched at approximately 2 p.m. and purchased over $2
05:05,200 of fireworks.
05:09After leaving that local fireworks vendor, he continued reviewing web pages related to Temple Israel, its clergy, and its upcoming
05:17events.
05:19On March 11th, the day before the attack, in the early morning, he began adding photos to a Facebook photo
05:27profile photo album that he entitled Vengeance.
05:31And he started including images such as the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, as well as the late Hezbollah
05:39Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
05:41With there on the right, in Arabic, it says, burn their world, for we have a vendetta against them that
05:48we will never forget.
05:50Throughout that morning on the 11th, he continued to post photos of his deceased brothers, niece and nephew, and exchanged
05:57some messages with his family.
05:59However, at approximately 2.22 p.m., the delivery of his 45.3-gallon collapsible water containers arrived.
06:07And from 2.45 onward, we see him begin planning and organizing his truck.
06:13And he goes to get gas four different times so that he can fill up his containers without alerting too
06:18much suspicion.
06:20By 10.50 p.m., he makes his final run to a gas station and purchases two torch lighters, which
06:27we believe he used to light his truck on fire.
06:32Throughout the same afternoon, while he's organizing his truck and going to gas stations, the assailant continued reviewing pages, web
06:39pages for Temple Israel and its upcoming events.
06:42And by 6.30, he continued posting pro-Hezbollah propaganda, as well as videos of his brother and watching a
06:50video about how Israel is the most violent country in the world.
06:53Next slide.
06:55This is just an example of some of the posts that he was posting during the afternoon of the 11th.
07:01On the left is a statement issued by the Islamic resistance of Hezbollah about the beginning of a military operation
07:07on March 11th called El As El Makul,
07:11which is a term used in the Quran where it refers to the destruction of the enemy and turning the
07:16enemy into withered dead leaves.
07:19In the bottom left of that photo on the left, you can see two logos.
07:23One is for the military media of the Islamic resistance, and the second logo is for Lebanese Hezbollah.
07:30On the right is a meme with the actual verse from the Quran in the Al-Fil chapter where it
07:35describes destroying the enemy and turning them into dead and withered leaves.
07:40At approximately 9.40 p.m. before he went to his last round of gas, he did one final search
07:45for what time is lunch at Temple Israel and later deleted that query as well.
07:51On the morning of the attack, early in the morning hours, he posted numerous photos to Facebook of his deceased
07:58family members, as well as the following comments.
08:01Can you go back one? Right there.
08:04In the early morning hours, he continued posting on random and various Facebook profiles that said,
08:10we will seek retribution for their sacred blood.
08:13Simu, which was a phrase for his brother, heaven is fortunate to have you.
08:17Israel is a cancerous, malignant growth.
08:19Israel is pure evil.
08:21And the oppressors will soon know what kind of end they will meet.
08:26By 6.56, he searched again online for additional rifle accessories.
08:31And by 7.20, he made a Facebook status post that said, you killed the Ali and Hussein of our
08:38time.
08:39We will avenge their blood.
08:42He also posted additional comments to various Facebook threads and added additional photos to his vengeance profile photo album in
08:49Facebook.
08:51From 8.45 to 9.52 that morning, before he left, the assailant visited the webpages again of a local
08:57firearms vendor, sporting goods store and search for a double magazine holster.
09:03But at approximately 9.18 a.m., the assailant departed for Temple Israel and arrived, as we all know, at
09:10approximately 9.58 a.m.
09:13At 10.01, he sends his sister a picture of her seat that says $2,000 to dad.
09:20And by 10.12, as he's sitting in the parking lot, he posts four videos which were taken as he
09:26was driving to Temple Israel that morning.
09:29In the background of these videos, which I'm just providing screenshots of, are Arabic anthems playing in the background that
09:36have the themes of resistance and military defiance and impending dawn.
09:42By 10.13, right after those four videos were posted, he posts this photo to his vengeance photo album that
09:48there's no need to learn Hebrew anymore.
09:50Next slide.
09:52And by 10.34 onward, this is where we see a significant amount of his ideology come forward.
09:58While he's sitting in the parking lot, he sends his sister overseas 19 videos, photos, and messages that reiterated his
10:07intent to commit a mass terrorist attack, as well as affirming his Hezbollah-inspired ideology.
10:14These communications included statements expressing a commitment to commit violent action, references to martyrdom, as well as threats to attack
10:24what he describes as the largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan.
10:28I'm going to provide a few of the screenshots.
10:31I'm not providing comprehensively everything that we have during this time.
10:35First here, the meme that he sent, the first one he sent to his sister, the translation is Jihad is
10:40the gateway to heaven, one that God opens to his chosen ones.
10:45Next slide.
10:46Next photo he sends her in order is a photo with the version of the Quran overlaid there in yellow.
10:52For such he has written faith in their hearts and strength them with a spirit from himself.
10:56And he will admit them to the gardens beneath which rivers flow to dwell therein.
11:01God will be well pleased with them and they with him.
11:03They are the party of God.
11:05Truly it is the party of God that will achieve felicity.
11:08His sister asks him to stop sending these photos, but he continues with a numerous set of videos and I
11:14have a few screenshots.
11:15This first video and the screenshot is him sitting in the car with the same upbeat anthem from earlier.
11:22And it's called this people send you a call.
11:25And the chant in the background while he's holding the gun praises the south of Lebanon, the Hez, the fighters
11:30and those who die for the cause.
11:32He displays his weapon at the end of the video and says we rely on God.
11:37In a second video with the same screenshot, he continues with a chant in the background that encourages one to
11:44bomb the enemies and bring death upon them.
11:47It also encourages listeners to invade and attack enemy fortresses.
11:52The next video screenshot, next video he sends is him listening to Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qasim talking.
12:01And the secretary general is saying that the listeners have one of two choices, victory or martyrdom.
12:08Qasim praises the Muhajin in the field for giving the rest of them courage and determination.
12:13And the Arabic writing at the top in yellow says I remain committed.
12:19The bottom video screenshot is a video of him with the upbeat battle song in the background.
12:25The song mentions it's time for slaughter and bloodshed and there's no time to draw back.
12:30While he's listening and recording himself driving, he yells Alu Akbar and then interrupts to declare his total devotion to
12:38God saying that he is answering the call to heaven.
12:42Next slide.
12:45This photo, which I believe is out in the public, is a text up in the upper part.
12:51It's a verse from the Quran that it says the believers are true to what they promised God.
12:55Some have died for the cause and some are still waiting, but will never change.
12:59The bottom caption has the reference from earlier where it says burn or ignite their world for we have a
13:05vengeance or a vendetta that we will never forget.
13:09The last meme that I'll show you is a screenshot that he was taking and sent to his sister in
13:14the parking lot as well, where he covers up the Israeli flag with the yellow cover paint there and puts
13:21the phrase party of God or Hezbollah over the Israeli flag.
13:25And yellow is a color often and always used and represents Hezbollah's sense of loyalty and sacrifice.
13:32Finally, and most concerning is approximately 10 minutes before the attack.
13:36He sends his sister two final videos.
13:39In Arabic, he records himself saying with this screenshot, this is the largest gathering of Israelis in the state of
13:45Michigan, in the United States.
13:47I have booby trapped the car.
13:49I will forcibly enter and start shooting them.
13:53God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can.
13:57He sends a quick three-second video with the same screenshot shortly after and types the message, a special operation.
14:07In between these videos and photos, the assailant exchanged five short phone calls with his ex-wife, who called Dearborn
14:15Heights.
14:16The police department requesting that they do a welfare check on her ex-husband.
14:22And at 1219, as we all know, the assailant drove his video, his vehicle ramming into the doors of door
14:28five and he hit it twice.
14:31Tried once to hit it, had to reposition his truck and then came in at a high rate of speed
14:34going about 200 feet down the hallway.
14:38Between 1220 and 1222, the assailant and Tipple Israel security guards exchanged gunfire before we see that the assailant appears
14:47to set off the fireworks from the interior of his vehicle at approximately 1222.
14:53By 1230, the vehicle is on fire and the hallway is full of smoke.
15:00We are very grateful that aside from the assailant, there were no additional fatalities.
15:06However, this evidence makes very clear the attacker intended to cause significant amounts of harm to the members and the
15:12children present at Tipple Israel that day.
15:15At this stage of the investigation, we've continued to find no evidence of co-conspirators, nor do we have information
15:21that indicates a current active threat to the community at this time.
15:26I also want to address a few points that have drawn some public attention.
15:31Despite what has been in the reporting in the media at the time of this incident, the assailant was not
15:36the subject of or referenced in any prior FBI investigation, nor was he on the terrorist watch list.
15:44There was no evidence that he previously visited or conducted pre physical surveillance or pre attack surveillance at Tipple Israel
15:52prior to the attack.
15:54There were no additional improvised explosive devices besides the fireworks that we have described in the vehicle other than what
16:02we've already put out.
16:04And based upon the size of the water containers, we now assess the subject used approximately 35 gallons of gasoline,
16:10not just the 20 to 30 that I had previously stated in attempts to enhance his fireworks to set off
16:16the vehicle.
16:18Finally, I want to extend a deep thanks to my federal, state and local partners, as well as the Jewish
16:26community organizations that have worked with us throughout this response.
16:30Their partnership has been and continues to be essential to our investigative efforts, as well as our shared mission to
16:36keep the Jewish community safe from any future threats.
16:40And I'll now turn it.
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