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Authorities in Michigan have announced the arrest of a third suspect connected to a foiled terror plot planned for Halloween. Ayob Nasser, 19, was taken into custody on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a conspiracy to attack LGBTQ+ bars in the Detroit suburbs. Federal officials stated that the plot was inspired by the Islamic State and involved detailed planning, including scouting locations at an amusement park in the Midwest.
Nasser joins his brother Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, who were arrested days earlier on Friday. All three men face charges related to conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization and illegal handling of firearms and ammunition. Court documents reveal that two minors, identified only as Person 1 and Person 2, were also involved in the discussions and planning stages of the attack.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies had been monitoring the group for several weeks. Surveillance tactics reportedly included the use of a camera mounted on a pole outside a residence in Dearborn. Investigators also gained access to encrypted chats and social media activities which shed light on the extent of the plot. Searches of homes, a family-operated auto repair shop, and a storage unit uncovered a cache of weapons, including AR-15 style rifles, handguns, large amounts of ammunition, tactical gear, and electronic devices.
Interestingly, Ali, Mahmoud, and one of the minors had visited bars in Ferndale, a Detroit suburb known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community and annual Pride parade, despite being underage. Meanwhile, Nasser and the other minor had traveled twice in September to an amusement park about three hours from Dearborn. Phone records and surveillance linked them to this location, where searches had been made about crowd levels on Halloween weekend. While the court documents did not name the park, Cedar Point near Cleveland, Ohio, fits the description and timing noted by investigators.
Court filings also mention coded references in group chats about the Halloween attack, with one conspirator naming "American Jewish Center" and Nasser replying with seemingly cryptic approval. The minors were reportedly influenced by local extremist ideologues, and searches showed that the group researched past mass shootings, including the Pulse nightclub massacre, the Buffalo supermarket attack, the Nashville Covenant School shooting, and a deadly truck attack in New Orleans from 2025.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, with Ali and Mahmoud making court appearances and remaining in custody until a detention hearing scheduled for November 10. The defense attorneys for the accused have declined to comment extensively, with one attorney dismissing the charges as exaggerated fear-mongering. Federal authorities remain committed to preventing terrorism and continue their investigation into the broader network of individuals involved.
