Two Men Charged in Foiled Detroit Terror Plot

Federal authorities charged Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud in a 72–73‑page criminal complaint alleging they received, transferred and conspired to transfer firearms and ammunition knowing they would be used to commit terrorism after the FBI said it thwarted a planned Halloween‑weekend attack in Dearborn and nearby Inkster. The filing names five people (including a juvenile and two unnamed co‑conspirators) and says the group bought AR‑15‑style rifles, a shotgun, accessories including a forced‑reset trigger and more than 1,600 rounds, trained at ranges and scouted potential targets in Ferndale — including LGBTQ+ bars. Investigators say the suspects were inspired by Islamic State extremism, used encrypted chats that referenced "pumpkins" as a Halloween attack, and agents seized weapons from homes, a storage unit and other locations. FBI Director Kash Patel and state officials praised the coordinated disruption, while defense lawyers and community members have pushed back, describing the defendants as teenagers or young adults who are recreational shooters and gamers and disputing that there was a concrete plot. Two of the five remain charged and are due to appear in federal court; the FBI and prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing.