Executive Summary
- Three men from Dearborn, Michigan, accused of plotting a domestic terror attack for ISIS, have consented to pre-trial detention.
- The alleged targets included LGBTQ+ venues in Ferndale and the Cedar Point amusement park.
- The case is part of a broader federal investigation involving eight arrests in Michigan, Washington, and New Jersey.
- Defense lawyers maintain their clients were not part of a terror cell and had no concrete plan for an attack.
- The men are charged with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization and related firearms violations.
DETROIT, MI – Three men from Dearborn, Michigan, accused of plotting a domestic terror attack on behalf of the Islamic State, have consented to remain in federal custody while their criminal cases proceed. Ayob Nasser, 19, his brother Mohmed Ali, 20, and Majed Mahmoud, 20, appeared in federal court in Detroit on Monday, where they waived their right to a detention hearing.
The men are charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization and with firearms offenses related to the alleged plot. Prosecutors claim the group intended to target LGBTQ+ friendly clubs in Ferndale and the Cedar Point amusement park. The charges stem from an investigation that culminated in a series of raids on Halloween, during which investigators recovered firearms from two homes in Dearborn and a storage facility in Inkster.
This case is part of a larger federal counter-terrorism operation, described as the most significant in Michigan in over two decades, which has resulted in charges against eight individuals across the country. Arrests have been made in the Seattle area, Metro Detroit, and New Jersey. Among those charged are a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old from Dearborn, who are being prosecuted as juveniles in sealed federal court filings.
Defense attorneys for some of the accused have publicly challenged the government’s narrative. Amir Makled, a lawyer representing Mohmed Ali, stated previously that the men were not part of a terror cell and that no mass-casualty event was planned. He suggested their activity may have been limited to visiting online chat groups.
According to court filings, the FBI investigation began in 2024. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the unsealing of the complaint last week, stating that the subjects possessed multiple AR-15 rifles, tactical gear, and a detailed plan for an attack on U.S. soil. The three men will remain detained as the legal process moves forward. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.