November 05 2025, 08:15 
The FBI arrested two men on Friday who are accused of plotting to attack LGBTQ+ bars over Halloween weekend.
20-year-olds Momed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, along with other co-conspirators, allegedly scouted out LGBTQ+ bars in the suburbs of Detroit as possible attack locations while also practicing using newly-acquired high-powered weapons at gun ranges.
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PBS reported that they have been charged with receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for terrorism, with the complaint alleging that Mahmoud had recently purchased more than 1,600 ammunition rounds for AR-15-style weapons.
On October 31, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on social media that the bureau had “thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend.”
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That same day, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) wrote that she is “grateful for the swift action of the FBI and MSP [Michigan State Police] protecting Michiganders.”
This morning, I was briefed by Director Patel on the thwarted potential terrorist attack in our state . As details continue to develop, I am grateful for the swift action of the FBI and MSP protecting Michiganders.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) October 31, 2025
The suspects are believed to have been ISIS-inspired Islamic radicals. Law enforcement officials told CNN that an undercover FBI agent infiltrated a chatroom where they spoke about “pumpkin day,” thought to be a reference to a planned Halloween attack.
Officers began making arrests after a group of people the FBI was monitoring practiced with AK-47s at a shooting range last week.
The FBI has also arrested a third person and is questioning others, who are believed to have been involved, all ranging in age from 16 to 20, Ali’s lawyer, Amir Makled, told CNN.
Makled also said that “once the facts are reviewed objectively, it will be clear there was never any planned ‘mass-casualty’ event or coordinated terror plot of any kind.”
“The reality here involves a small group… with a lawful interest in recreational firearms,” Makled added, “not a terrorist cell or organized attack. All firearms were legally obtained and registered.” He also expressed concern that the situation is causing an increase in harmful anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
He also said the accusations stemmed from “hysteria” and “fearmongering.”
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