Six young men from three states, all between the ages of 19 and 21, have been arrested in connection with an alleged homegrown terror plot that federal authorities say involved plans for a mass shooting at gay bars in Michigan on Halloween and intentions to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group.
The suspects, hailing from Michigan, New Jersey, and Washington state, were accused of coordinating their efforts through encrypted chats and voice calls, using code words like 'vacation' for jihad, 'pumpkin' for the Halloween attack, and 'Thanksgiving land' for Turkey, according to court documents released by the Justice Department.
Federal investigators intercepted communications that allegedly showed the group drawing inspiration from previous attacks, including the 2015 Paris terror attacks that killed more than 130 people and the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which claimed 49 lives. The plot was reportedly thwarted after arrests in Dearborn, Michigan, where three suspects lived, prompting others to accelerate their travel plans.
Among the accused are brothers Mohmed Ali and Ayob Nasser from Dearborn, along with Majed Mahmoud, also from the Detroit suburb. In New Jersey, authorities arrested two suspects from the upscale Montclair community: one a college student whose mother works for the United Nations, and another the son of an English professor. A sixth suspect was from Kent, Washington, where a judge noted his 'strong family ties and stable housing.'
According to the FBI, the group had amassed a stockpile of high-end guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Surveillance photos released by the Eastern District of Michigan show suspects like Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud practicing at a local gun range. Another image allegedly depicts Tomas Jimenez-Guzel wearing a keffiyeh and holding a handgun, with his face blurred.
Federal agents also seized a photo of Saed Mirreh in what authorities described as ISIS-style garb, again with the face blurred. Court documents detail how one suspect allegedly fantasized about killing Jews with swords, while another reportedly expressed hopes for a 'second holocaust' in messages amid campus protests against Israel's response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
In one intercepted message, a suspect allegedly wrote to a friend, '[b]ro everyone hates the Jews now...I hope a second holocaust happens to them.' After the friend mentioned a pro-Israel protest, the response was reportedly, 'I'm gonna drive into the protest and run over like 10 Jews.'
At least two suspects had prior interactions with the FBI. One from Washington state allegedly had ties to a juvenile terror suspect in Canada, and another from New Jersey was accused of discussing a potential attack in Boston during a livestream. A third reportedly researched bodycam and GoPro videos of mass shootings.
Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, told Fox News Digital that the case highlights failures in assimilation and the rapid radicalization enabled by social media. 'Lone wolves have been a problem for decades,' Ries said. 'Now we’re also seeing this happen in groups and among young people.'
Ries pointed to broader issues, noting that while authorities haven't confirmed the suspects' immigration status, at least two have familial ties overseas, including in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Nigeria. 'For decades, we've seen a problem of immigrants or first-generation [citizens] not assimilating into Americans,' she said. 'This is partly on the government, civic organizations, etc. — but also social media is aggravating all of these.'
There is a real globalist effort to invade, to commit violence, to deconstruct Western civilization from within, through division and violence. The U.S. is on that same path, not as far down as the U.K. or France, nonetheless, we're on the path.
Ries argued that narratives portraying the U.S. as a 'racist' country or framing the world in terms of 'oppressor vs. oppressed' fuel such radicalization, calling them 'nonsense.' She questioned, 'If all that were true, why would millions of people still be coming here? It just defies logic and it shows how untrue and what a lie their oppressor-oppressed model is.'
The alleged plot unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with one suspect reportedly accelerating his flight plans after the Michigan arrests, only to be apprehended at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Federal documents indicate the group used terms like 'unalive' for kill and 'pew' for guns in their communications.
Although ISIS was militarily defeated in 2019, experts like Ries warn that its ideology persists online. She emphasized the need for better assimilation efforts, stating, 'We need to get back, as a sovereign nation, we need to get back to teaching assimilation and encouraging assimilation and civics, one language, encouraging loyalty to your fellow Americans.'
Ries also highlighted recent policy shifts under the Trump administration, including increased scrutiny for naturalization applicants. 'The Trump administration is now returning to neighborhood visits for naturalization applications to see if [an applicant] is going to uphold the oath that they would take if we grant them naturalization,' she said. 'Are they gonna be loyal to America and their fellow Americans?'
The arrests come amid ongoing concerns about homegrown extremism, with the suspects' ages underscoring how quickly radicalization can occur among youth. One allegedly expressed a desire for fame, hoping for a documentary and a Wikipedia page about himself.
Authorities have not released details on whether any suspects are immigrants or naturalized citizens, but the case has sparked discussions on integration. Ries drew parallels to other incidents, mistakenly referencing 'Charlie Kirk’s alleged murder' in her comments, though no such event involving the conservative activist is known; it may have been a misstatement.
In Dearborn, a community with a large Arab-American population, the arrests have raised questions about local ties to extremism. The planned attack targeted gay bars in the Detroit area, echoing the Pulse shooting, which the suspects allegedly referenced in their plans.
Federal prosecutors have charged the men with various offenses related to terrorism and conspiracy. Court appearances have begun, with some suspects held without bail due to the severity of the allegations.
As investigations continue, experts like Ries call for a renewed focus on countering online radicalization and promoting national unity. The case serves as a stark reminder of persistent threats from ISIS-inspired groups, even years after the caliphate's fall.
Looking ahead, trials for the suspects are expected in federal courts in Michigan, New Jersey, and possibly Washington state. Authorities are also examining any international connections, given the alleged contacts abroad.
The broader implications extend to immigration policy and social media's role in extremism. While Ries advocates for stricter assimilation measures, others may argue for different approaches to youth radicalization, though no conflicting viewpoints were detailed in available reports.
In the wake of these arrests, communities like Montclair and Dearborn are grappling with the shock of alleged terror plots emerging from seemingly stable suburban environments. The case underscores the challenges of detecting and preventing homegrown threats in an era of digital connectivity.