FBI arrests 2 minors in alleged Halloween terror plot; charges kept secret

• An FBI investigation right into a Halloween terror plot has led to fees towards eight folks in three states.
• Two metro Detroit youths are going through fees in a confidential authorized continuing.
• The defendants are believed to be planning to hitch ISIS overseas and accelerated their journey plans after arrests have been made in Michigan.

The FBI’s Halloween terror investigation has now ensnared eight defendants from three states — together with two metro Detroit youths charged in a secret trial, and two teenagers from rich New Jersey households, together with one who allegedly supplied to carry out beheadings for movies and talked about staging a bombing in Boston so huge that Netflix would make a particular about it, based on new courtroom paperwork and sources acquainted with the investigation.

On the native entrance, legal proceedings and paperwork involving the 2 youths have been sealed, and their courtroom hearings can even happen in a confidential location within the U.S. District Court docket, out of attain of the general public.

As for the older teenagers charged within the alleged plot, new lawsuits shed extra mild on a gaggle of males the FBI alleges have been decided to hitch ISIS, journey overseas and prepare to hold out terrorist assaults, together with right here in the USA. Within the Michigan lawsuits, the FBI has alleged that the group was exploring an amusement park and Woodward Avenue bars frequented by Ferndale’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood, although the FBI will not be claiming this was a hate crime towards gays.

The 93-page indictment in Detroit federal courtroom makes no point out of anti-gay lyrics, social media posts or feedback concerning the LGBTQ+ neighborhood by the defendants, nor does the 48-page grievance unsealed on Nov. 6 in U.S. District Court docket in New Jersey, which fees two extra people with numerous terrorism-related crimes.

These defendants embody 19-year-old Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel of Montclair, New Jersey, who reportedly mentioned he wished to be referred to as “one of many 100 most evil folks on this planet,” and supplied to his cronies that he would carry out beheadings for promotional movies if requested. The federal government has alleged that Jimenez-Guzel is concerned within the alleged terrorist plot to assault Ferndale over Halloween weekend, though the legal grievance doesn’t point out the alleged plot in Michigan.

As a substitute, the 48-page grievance focuses on how Jimenez-Guzel and a Washington state teenager allegedly mentioned their help for ISIS and Islamic extremism on social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps, and deliberate to journey overseas to hitch ISIS.

In response to the grievance, Jimenez-Guzel had plans to fly to Turkey later in November with plans to cross Syria and be a part of ISIS, however moved his flight up after studying concerning the FBI’s Halloween raids in Michigan, the place three males have been arrested and charged with planning an assault in Ferndale utilizing weapons. Jimenez-Guzel was arrested this week at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport earlier than he may board a airplane to Turkey, the grievance mentioned.

His alleged confederate, 19-year-old Saed Ali Mirreh of Kent, Washington, additionally had plans to journey to Turkey however was arrested at his residence earlier than he may go away, based on the grievance.

In a video on the social media platform She didn’t say how they have been related, solely that that they had pledged help for ISIS, made anti-Semitic feedback on-line and made plans to hold out terrorist assaults right here in the USA.

Habba additionally introduced {that a} third man, 19-year-old Milo Sedarat, of Montclair, New Jersey, had additionally been arrested and charged with terrorism-related crimes and making anti-Semitic threats.

In response to courtroom paperwork, the FBI has been investigating the Washington and New Jersey suspects since 2023 and monitoring their conversations with the assistance of undercover FBI informants and brokers.

After raiding the Washington man’s residence in 2023, the FBI says it discovered that the suspect — then a minor — “mentioned finishing up assaults in the USA on behalf of ISIS in a web-based chat group, and might also have offered help to a youth in Canada arrested by Canadian authorities on terrorism fees.”

In response to the grievance, the FBI interviewed Mirreh on the time of the raid and he “admitted sending messages to others a few doable assault and consuming ISIS propaganda, however denied planning to hold out an assault.”

The FBI additionally interviewed Mirreh in January 2024, at which era Mirreh denied having any additional on-line contact with members of pro-ISIS on-line teams.

In response to the grievance, Mirreh used the social media platform Instagram to speak with at the least three recognized international ISIS supporters, talked about committing violence towards Jewish folks, purchased airplane tickets to journey overseas, educated at capturing ranges and shared photographs of knives and navy vests. Though Mirreh had claimed to not have contact with pro-ISIS activists, the FBI mentioned, Instagram data allegedly present he continued to speak with the group all year long.

But the grievance didn’t clarify how the Washington man and his alleged New Jersey cohorts have been concerned in an alleged plot to assault Ferndale or the Cedar Level amusement park, nor does it point out these alleged plots.

The newest grievance focuses largely on how the lads deliberate to journey overseas to hitch ISIS, and mentions Michigan in its last pages, saying a gaggle of males “accelerated” these journey plans “following the arrests of their associates in Dearborn, Michigan on terrorism fees.”

In response to the grievance, the Dearborn defendants had been speaking with the lads from New Jersey and Washington, and when Dearborn’s arrests occurred, Jimenez-Guzel turned nervous.

“There are a variety of urgent issues we have to discuss. … We have to speak; it is very pressing,” Jimenez-Guzel advised an undercover informant on Nov. 3, based on the grievance. “…so, what occurred in Dearborn?…there are names within the…factor. The FBI may be on the lookout for us in every week, so we’re leaving at this time or tomorrow…they will be on the lookout for us quickly. IF we do not go away, we’re executed.”

He later provides: “Tomorrow we will likely be in Turkey. … We’re going to delete all the pieces from our telephones besides your contact. … They’ve arrest warrants. They’re on the lookout for us now. We have to go away urgently earlier than this will get greater.”

Jimenez-Guzel by no means reached Turkey.

The day after his dialog with the undercover officer, he was arrested at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport. His alleged cohort, who additionally deliberate to fly to Turkey, was arrested at his Seattle residence.

A Michigan lawyer for the defendants beforehand dominated that there was no plan to assault anybody or anyplace, and that the defendants are merely video avid gamers engaged in robust speak, and nothing else.

The federal government disagrees and says the investigation is ongoing.

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com