03 November 2025 , 23:00
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Authorities announced on Monday that two 20-year-old men, who had acquired high-powered weapons and practiced at gun ranges, were scouting LGBTQ+ bars in suburban Detroit in September for a potential Halloween attack, leading to terrorism-related charges against them.
According to a 72-page criminal complaint unsealed in federal court, Mohmed Ali, Majed Mahmoud, and their co-conspirators were inspired by the extremism of the Islamic State group. Investigators noted that a minor, referred to as Person 1, was significantly involved in the planning.
"Our American heroes prevented a terror attack," U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on X.
The complaint notes that, despite being underage for alcohol consumption, the men considered targeting LGBTQ+ bars in Ferndale.
Prior to making arrests on Friday, FBI agents had been monitoring the suspects for weeks, employing surveillance tactics including a pole-mounted camera outside a Dearborn residence. Investigators accessed encrypted chats, other communications, and scrutinized social media activity.
The FBI’s interest in Ali, Mahmoud, and a third individual stemmed from an investigation into another man and a group call recorded in July by a confidential source.
Ali and Mahmoud face charges of receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for terrorism purposes. They appeared briefly in federal court on Monday and will remain in custody until at least a Nov. 10 detention hearing.
Defense attorneys William Swor and Amir Makled declined to comment. During the weekend, Makled seemed to dismiss the allegations, labeling them as "hysteria" and "fear-mongering."
The government alleged that Mahmoud had recently purchased over 1,600 rounds of ammunition suitable for AR-15-style rifles, and both suspects practiced at gun ranges.
The FBI indicated that in their conversations, the men frequently referred to "pumpkins," hinting at a Halloween attack. The court document mentions that Person 1, the minor, regularly consulted the father of a "local Islamic extremist ideologue" regarding when to perform a "good deed."
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests on Friday, though initial details were withheld as agents conducted searches in Dearborn and at a storage unit rented by Ali in nearby Inkster.
The searches uncovered tactical vests and backpacks, AR-15-style rifles, ammunition, loaded handguns, and GoPro cameras, according to the FBI.
The criminal complaint does not specifically explain why Ferndale was chosen as a target, however, the man responsible for the attack on the LGBTQ+-friendly Pulse Nightclub, which resulted in 49 deaths in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, had declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Ferndale, located just north of Detroit, attracts tens of thousands of attendees to its annual Pride parade. Former Mayor Dave Coulter, who is gay, expressed that the alleged plot was "disturbing."
Coulter, now the elected Oakland County executive, stated that the impact of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy "is still deeply felt" in Ferndale.
This is the second case since May involving alleged plots in the Detroit area in support of the Islamic State group. The FBI reported the earlier arrest of a man who had spent months planning an attack on a U.S. Army site in Warren. Ammar Said pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.
World Affairs Correspondent