Federal law enforcement arrested three more Islamic terror suspects linked to an ISIS-inspired plot to attack bars and nightclubs in Detroit on Halloween, the FBI announced Wednesday.
Last week, the FBI said agents arrested four suspects accused of plotting an attack they hoped would mimic the 2015 Paris terrorist massacre that left 130 people dead. On Wednesday, three more men, two in New Jersey and one in Michigan, were hit with charges.
The two New Jersey suspects are Milo Sedarat and Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, both from Montclair. Jimenez-Guzel was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport on his way to travel to Syria to join ISIS fighters, a law enforcement official told The Wall Street Journal.
Jimenez-Guzel has been charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba said that law enforcement obtained a photo of Jimenez-Guzel posing in front of an ISIS flag with a knife.
A law enforcement official told the Journal that Jimenez-Guzel was aware of the plans for the Halloween attack in Detroit and had previously visited the suspects planning that attack. Those suspects were named as Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud. Two juveniles have also been charged but have not been named.
Sedarat has been charged with transmitting threats to interstate and foreign commerce.
The complaint against him “describes a pattern of antisemitic messages advocating violence, along with images and purchases consistent with preparation for attack, including a knife and sword collection, tactical gear, and images of him practicing at a gun range,” Habba said.
Habba added that both men had “pledged themselves to ISIS, and were plotting acts of terrorism in our country,” according to the criminal complaint.
“Protecting the District of New Jersey and the United States, its people, its neighborhoods and its institutions is the core mission of our office. With our partners at the FBI and main Justice, we will continue to move swiftly and decisively whenever terrorism or hate threatens our communities,” she said.
After the announcement of the New Jersey arrests, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said that another suspect had been arrested on Wednesday.
“Today [FBI Detroit] and partners arrested a third additional suspect in connection to the alleged foiled terrorist attack in Michigan last week. Our investigation suggests this individual had been providing material support in preparation for the attack, inspired by ISIS,” he wrote on X. “They are now in custody. More to come. Thank you to the men and women who continue to work this case diligently.”
That suspect was identified as 19-year-old Ayob Nasser of Dearborn, Michigan. Nasser has been charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and having firearms that would be used to commit an act of terrorism on behalf of ISIS.
According to law enforcement, the suspects were all in a Signal chat together where they discussed ways to support ISIS.
“We will not stop. We will follow the tentacles where they lead. We will continue to stand guard with the FBI against terrorism,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, Jr.
