The FBI is calling the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township on Thursday a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
Related: Armed suspect dead after ramming vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township
See the latest information in the video below
7 Investigators look into the life of Ayman Ghazali
Federal investigators have identified the suspect as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, and overnight, federal agents could be seen raiding his home in Dearborn Heights.
Related: Man who called 911 recounts moments of terror at Temple Israel
Ghazali was shot and killed by security after he rammed his vehicle into the temple early Thursday afternoon.
Overnight, the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force raided his home on Gulley Rd., searching for evidence tied to the attack. Agents were seen carrying out over a dozen sealed paper bags and boxes.
Former FBI agent Andy Bartnowak said investigators are not just focused on motive – they’re also working ot determine if Ghazali acted alone and if there could be other threats.
“They’ll be looking for any cellphones, laptops, any other personal electronic devices to see if there’s any digital footprints, and any communication between the assailant and whoever else he may have communicated with about this attack,” Bartnowak said.
Here’s what we are learning about Ghazali. The Department of Homeland Security said the 41-year-old suspect moved from Lebanon to the United States in 2011 on an immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen.
He became a naturalized citizen in 2016.
A town official in Mashghara, Lebanon, told ABC News that the suspect’s family was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the town on the night on March 5.
That town official told ABC that Ayman Ghazali’s two brothers, Qassem and Ibrahim, and Ibrahim’s two children, a 4-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy, were killed. Ibrahim’s wife was also critically injured in the airstrike and is currently in the hospital with a fractured skull, broken pelvis and broken legs.
Sources also tell 7 News Detroit Ghazali worked at a Dearborn Heights restaurant but was on leave for the last 10 days, ever since his family members were killed.
One of Ghazali’s neighbors told 7 News Detroit that he didn’t know him very well, but they would exchange pleasantries from time to time.
“Shock, confusion, sadness, pretty much all the negative feelings you could feel about this were happening,” said neighbor Chadi Zreik.
Interview: Neighbor talks about living near the suspect
Neighbor talks about suspect in Temple Israel attack
He added, “Nobody condones this. Dearborn is a very close-knit community. Christians, Jews, Muslims, all of us, we all know what’s going on in this city … everybody’s connected here. But the fact that we didn’t see this … was truly shocking.”
We’ll continue to provide updates as we learn more about Ghazali and the attack on Temple Israel.