Multiple individuals were arrested in Michigan for allegedly plotting a violent attack during the Halloween weekend, FBI Director Kash Patel announced via social media.
The law enforcement operation targeted suburbs of Detroit, specifically Dearborn and nearby communities.
The big picture: Investigators believe the alleged plot was inspired by Islamic State extremism and are probing whether suspects were radicalized online.
- FBI and state police raided homes and a storage facility near Fordson High School in Dearborn and in Inkster, collecting evidence including paper bags and other items.
Go deeper: The investigation uncovered discussions in an online chatroom among the suspects, referencing a planned attack around Halloween using code words like “pumpkin day.”
- It remains unclear if suspects had the capability or resources to carry out the attack, but law enforcement arrested them due to the timing and potential threat.
Flashback: This recent arrest follows an earlier incident in May when a man, Ammar Said, was arrested in suburban Detroit for plotting an attack on a U.S. Army site on behalf of Islamic State; Said remains in custody facing terrorism charges.
