The FBI says it stopped an ISIS-inspired attack planned for a Detroit suburb on Halloween. Two men were charged and the unsealed complaint details weapons, encrypted chats, and planning that federal agents say pointed to a serious, coordinated plot. Defense counsel insists the group were merely “gamers,” but the complaint and recovered gear paint a different picture.
Federal law enforcement revealed a criminal complaint naming Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud as defendants in an alleged terror scheme. The pair are accused of acquiring firearms and other gear intended to be used in an act of terrorism, with the attack apparently codenamed “pumpkin.” Authorities say the plan targeted a suburban area and that messaging and timing discussions set Halloween as the intended date.
Two Michigan men have been charged in a foiled ISIS-inspired terror attack that allegedly would have involved a massacre in a Detroit suburb on Halloween, according to an FBI affidavit.
Mohmed Ali, of Dearborn, Michigan, and Majed Mahmoud are accused of plotting to launch a terror-inspired mass shooting codenamed “pumpkin,” according to court documents. They’ve been charged with receiving, transferring and attempting to receive and transfer firearms knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that they would be used to commit terrorism.
Ali practiced shooting at a local gun range multiple times, including with Mahmoud, a juvenile suspect referred to as “Person 1” and under the alias “Athari” — and once with an unnamed “Co-conspirator 4,” according to the complaint.
The charges come after Amir Makled, a lawyer for Ali, who was arrested Friday, claimed to The Associated Press that there was no plot and that he did not expect charges to be filed. Makled did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital Monday.
The complaint reportedly includes extensive digital communications and coordination among at least five additional co-conspirators, according to filings. Investigators say the group used encrypted apps and social platforms to exchange ISIS-related propaganda and operational discussions. Those patterns are what federal counterterrorism teams follow closely when they identify an imminent danger to the public.
“I don’t know where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from,” Makled said.
He described the all-male group of U.S. citizens as gamers, and said they range in age from 16 to 20.
“If these young men were on forums that they should not have been on or things of that nature, then we’ll have to wait and see,” Makled said. “But I don’t believe that there’s anything illegal about any of the activity they were doing.”
Defense counsel’s labeling of the suspects as “gamers” aims to minimize the threat, but investigators point to actual weapons, tactical gear, and a timeline that match a planned assault. Agents say they seized multiple rifles, pistols, thousands of rounds of ammunition, optical sights, tactical vests, and magazines during searches. Those items are not props and, when paired with detailed communications, became the basis for federal charges related to material support and weapons conspiracies.
Person 1, ALI, MAHMOUD, Co-conspirator 4, and Co-conspirator 5 also regularly communicated with each other and with other individuals who separately indicated that they have knowledge of the potential attack plans and related information. In addition to meeting in person, Person 1, ALI, MAHMOUD, Co-conspirator 4, and Coconspirator 5 have used online encrypted communications and social media applications to share extremist and ISIS-related materials that encourage attacks similar to what they planned. Further, Person 1 and ALI discussed when to conduct their attack, which they appeared to set for Halloween, and they sought guidance from the father of a local Islamic extremist ideologue (the “Islamic Ideologue”) on this question.
Federal filings say one co-conspirator returned from travel with phone searches and photos tying him to extremist content and tactical gear. Investigators claim at least one juvenile participant referenced prior ISIS attacks overseas as a template. That sort of mimicry is a known pattern for radicalized individuals seeking to escalate from online rhetoric to real-world violence.
Officials emphasized that ISIS remains an active threat despite territorial defeats years ago, and they argue law enforcement must adapt to how the group seeks recruits online. The complaint alleges the defendants and their associates shared instructions, encouragement, and materials meant to further violent acts. Those online pathways are why domestic counterterrorism efforts now focus heavily on digital footprints and encrypted communications.
Finally, on October 31, 2025, pursuant to federal search warrants, agents recovered, among other things, three AR-15 style rifles, two shotguns, four handguns, more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition compatible with the three AR-15 style rifles, optical sights, two GoPro cameras, a flash suppressor, tactical vests, and other related firearms parts and accessories at ALI’s and MAHMOUD’s residences. And in a storage unit rented by ALI and visited by MAHMOUD, agents recovered two more chest rig vests, two black tactical backpacks, and 24 empty magazines compatible with the three seized AR-15 style rifles.
Republican-leaning observers will point out that keeping weapons out of the hands of people intent on harming civilians is a priority that transcends partisan fights over rights and regulations. This case underscores the need to track criminal behavior while protecting constitutional liberties. When plot indicators and physical preparations align, swift action by federal and local partners can prevent mass casualties.
FBI leadership framed the unsealing of the complaint as the result of months of investigative work and coordination with prosecutors. The agency stressed that disrupting networks before they act is the best way to safeguard communities. The investigation remains active as authorities work to identify any further threats and to follow the leads revealed in the evidence.
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