Another teen was arrested in connection with a planned and prevented Halloween terror plot in Michigan, bringing the total apprehended to five.
Arrested Wednesday was Dearborn’s Ayob Nasser, 19, the brother of one of the men previously charged, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
This follows Tuesday’s apprehension of two New Jerseyans, Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzal and Milo Sedarat, both also 19.
Mr. Jimenez-Guzal was taken into custody at Newark Liberty International Airport before he could board a flight to Turkey. He had planned to leave earlier, but moved his flight up following FBI raids last week.
New Jersey acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said her office charged both Garden State men by federal criminal complaint on Tuesday.
Mr. Jimenez-Guzal is charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and Mr. Sedarat is charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, according to reports.
This comes after two Michigan men, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, were arrested and charged with receiving and transferring firearms and ammunition to commit terrorism, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday. Mr. Ali is Mr. Nasser’s brother.
Mr. Nasser was hit with the receiving and transferring charge.
The three Michigan men — Mr. Ali, Mr. Nasser and Mr. Mahmoud — have also been charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Islamic State group, according to an amended criminal complaint that newly charges Mr. Nasser.
The three purchased firearms, accessories and ammunition and shot at gun ranges. They also allegedly used online encrypted communications and social media to share “extremist and ISIS-related materials that encourage attacks similar to what they planned,” the complaint said.
In mid-September, they are believed to have scouted locations for a possible attack, potentially including LGBTQ clubs and an amusement park in Michigan.
Another co-conspirator’s search history included deadly attacks, including the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; the 2016 shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida; and the New Orleans truck massacre on New Year’s Day, according to the complaint.
The latest potential terrorist attack was prevented early Friday, FBI Director Kash Patel said, as agents executed search warrants for homes in Dearborn and a U-Haul storage unit in nearby Inkster, rented by Mr. Ali.
“This FBI acted fast, followed the evidence, and likely saved countless lives,” Mr. Patel said on social media.
