Federal authorities have charged two men, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, with conspiring to commit an act of terrorism in Michigan. The charges stem from a criminal complaint filed on Monday (November 3) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The complaint accuses the men of receiving and transferring firearms and ammunition with the intent to commit a federal crime of terrorism.
The FBI began monitoring Ali and Mahmoud after encrypted communications indicated they planned to carry out an attack on behalf of the Islamic State (ISIS). The complaint details how Ali purchased a shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle, and firearm accessories, including a forced reset trigger, while Mahmoud bought an AR-15-style rifle and over 1,600 rounds of ammunition.
The suspects practiced shooting at gun ranges and scouted locations in Ferndale, Michigan, known for their LGBTQ+ community, as potential targets. Federal agents seized multiple weapons, ammunition, tactical gear, and other items from the suspects’ residences and a storage unit.
Defense attorneys argue that the men were merely recreational gun enthusiasts and gamers, dismissing the allegations as exaggerated. Attorney Amir Makled, representing Ali, stated, “There is no evidence whatsoever of a planned terror or ‘mass casualty’ plot.”
Recent Comments