Two Dearborn Men Charged in Alleged Halloween Terror Plot Targeting Ferndale
FERNDALE, Mich. (November 3, 2023) – Two men from Dearborn, Michigan, have been charged in connection with an alleged terror plot targeting Ferndale, authorities announced Friday. The FBI says it thwarted a potential attack planned for halloween weekend.
Ali, and Mahmoud, are facing federal charges following searches conducted by FBI agents in Ferndale, Inkster, and Dearborn. Agents recovered three AR-15 style rifles, two shotguns, four handguns, and over 1,600 rounds of ammunition compatible with the rifles. Additional items seized included optical sights, two GoPro cameras, a flash suppressor, tactical vests, and related firearms parts and accessories. A search of a storage unit in Inkster yielded two chest rig vests, tactical backpacks, and 24 empty magazines compatible with the seized AR-15 style rifles.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the disruption of the alleged plot on social media friday.
However,a Michigan defense attorney representing one of the suspects disputed Patel’s claim,suggesting the allegations may stem from conversations during online video gaming.
Neighbors near the last known addresses of the suspects offered varied reactions. “It’s serious, I think. I think it’s worth looking into. If they’re innocent, our system, I think, will prove them innocent,” said neighbor John Lodwig. “I don’t think our FBI spends their time watching kids play games,do you? A defense attorney’s going to have to say what a defense attorney would say,and I would be making up some kind of a story like that if I was a defense attorney. But I don’t believe that.”
Retired FBI Assistant Director Dan Roberts noted the length of the criminal complaint, stating it was one of the most extensive he’d seen in over 30 years of law enforcement.”There’s a lot of interesting things in the criminal complaint,but at the heart of it is indeed a gun charge,which is used,as you know,greatly in federal indictments,” Roberts said. “It’s all very disturbing. There was large quantities of ammunition… 15, 16 hundred rounds of ammo.”
Roberts also highlighted the significance of the Ferndale locations, given ISIS’s history of targeting LGBTQ communities.