Recently, a memorial service was held at michigan Authorities say several relatives of Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed a truck into israel temple earlier this week.
The ceremony was held last Sunday at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights, just days before the synagogue attack, the Detroit Free Press reported. Iman Haab confirmed to the newspaper that the memorial commemorates four members of the Ansari family who were killed overseas.
Below are reports from relatives.
Ibrahim Ansari
Ibrahim Ansari was among those killed in Israeli air strikes lebanon. Ibrahim was the brother of Ayman Ansari, who was killed along with his family in the strike, the Associated Press reported.
The Detroit Free Press reported that Ibrahim was remembered at a memorial service at a mosque.
Qasim Ansari
Another brother, Qasim Ghazali, was also killed in the same airstrike, the Associated Press reported. The brothers were reportedly at a home in Lebanon when the strike took place.
Ali and Fatima Ansari
The memorial also commemorates Ibrahim Ansari’s children Ali Ansari and Fatima Ansari. The Detroit Free Press reported that both men were killed in the attack, citing mosque officials.
The attack reportedly occurred shortly after sunset as the family prepared to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Separately, Mo Bedoun said Ansari recently lost several family members, including nieces and nephews, in “Israeli attacks on their home in Lebanon.”
Also read: Michigan synagogue attack suspect loses family in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
Conflicting reports about affiliations
There are conflicting reports on whether the brothers have ties to Hezbollah. NBC News cited an unnamed Lebanese official as saying the brothers were affiliated with the group. However, the New York Times cited another anonymous Lebanese official as saying they had no ties to Hezbollah.
Separately, CNN quoted anonymous U.S. law enforcement officials as saying that Ansari had previously been flagged in government databases as having ties to individuals suspected of ties to Hezbollah, but investigators did not believe he was a member of Hezbollah himself.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed a motive for the synagogue attack. However, the FBI said shortly after the incident that it was investigating the case as an act of targeted violence against the Jewish community.
