Lawyer For Two Named In Plot Issues Statement
As new details emerge from the unsealed criminal complaint against two Michigan men charged in an ISIS-inspired terror plot, one thing is painfully clear: the threat of radical Islamist terror is not a relic of the past — it is alive, evolving, and once again knocking on our doorstep.
According to the FBI, 22-year-old Mohmed Ali of Dearborn and Majed Mahmoud were plotting a Halloween massacre in a Detroit suburb, codenamed “Pumpkin,” which bore terrifying similarities to the 2015 ISIS attacks in Paris that left 137 dead and hundreds injured. Their alleged goal? A mass shooting designed to kill as many Americans as possible — and they weren’t just talking. They were stockpiling firearms, tactical gear, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, communicating in encrypted apps, and coordinating with at least five other individuals, including juveniles, all allegedly radicalized by ISIS propaganda.
Our newly unsealed complaint reveals a major ISIS-linked terror plot with multiple subjects arrested in the Eastern District of Michigan targeting the United States.
According to the complaint, subjects had multiple AR-15 rifles, tactical gear, and a detailed plan to carry out…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) November 3, 2025
This wasn’t some vague internet fantasy. This was a concrete plan with real weapons, real targets, and a clear intent to murder. And yet, their defense attorney dismissed it all as “hysteria” and “fearmongering,” suggesting they were just a group of misunderstood “gamers.” That claim evaporates quickly when you read the FBI’s inventory of the arsenal these men had acquired: multiple AR-15s, handguns, chest rigs, GoPro cameras, tactical vests, and enough ammo to reenact a warzone.
According to the FBI, Ali and his juvenile accomplice "Athari" repeatedly referenced their desire to replicate the Paris attacks. One of their co-conspirators had searched for “ISIS” and “Islamic State” and took selfies in tactical gear holding firearms. Others reportedly sought guidance from the son of a known Islamic ideologue in the area, asking when to execute their plan. The target date? Halloween.
The ideological sickness behind this plot was cloaked in digital anonymity — gaming forums, encrypted chats, and social media platforms served as the new terrorist recruitment centers. ISIS may have lost its caliphate, but its message remains viral. And just like with the 764 nihilist group tied to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the rise of ideologically motivated domestic extremists across the spectrum, we’re seeing a generation of young, disaffected men become radicalized in the shadows.
This case, now public, shows the FBI has been working behind the scenes, tirelessly connecting the digital breadcrumbs left behind by would-be killers. Director Kash Patel and Special Agent Jennifer Runyan made it clear in their joint statements: this wasn’t just good policing — it was a lifesaving operation. “We acted quickly and likely saved many lives,” Patel said. Runyan added that the Joint Terrorism Task Force is committed to using “every available federal resource” to identify and neutralize domestic threats before they strike.
There are also broader implications here. While some in the media and political class would prefer to brush these threats aside as fringe outliers, the reality tells a different story: ISIS is not gone. It is not dead. It is evolving. Its message, like a virus, has mutated and found fertile ground among the disillusioned youth of Western nations, using the very platforms they frequent to push them toward jihad.
Let this be a reminder: terror doesn’t need a passport anymore. It only needs a Wi-Fi signal and a target.