Federal authorities announced the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a U.S. military base in Michigan. Said, a former Michigan Army National Guard member, is accused of attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS and distributing information related to creating destructive devices.
The targeted facility was the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, which is home to the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM). According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the intervention by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and partner law enforcement agencies managed to avert what could have turned into a deadly attack.
Investigations revealed that Said had undertaken drone surveillance of the base and advised an undercover FBI agent on the weaponry required for the assault. Believing the agent to be a fellow ISIS supporter, Said allegedly instructed the preparation of at least seven ammunition magazines to ensure they would not run out during the planned attack. It is reported that their communications began in June 2024, with Said detailing his operational plans.
Court documents further allege that Said provided the undercover agent with armor-piercing rounds and magazines and offered tactical guidance on breaching the base and the specific buildings to target within TACOM. Said also reportedly instructed the agent on constructing Molotov cocktails for the assault.
If Said is convicted on both charges, he faces up to 40 years in federal prison. Authorities emphasized that there was no immediate threat to the public following the arrest and the investigation remains active. Said had used a drone to conduct reconnaissance over the military installation, a critical part of the planning process.
Throughout their interactions, Said expressed his loyalty to ISIS and discussed the strategic importance of targeting U.S. military facilities. He also voiced anti-American sentiments. The FBI has pledged to continue its efforts in identifying and thwarting individuals planning acts of terror on American soil.
The Department of Justice will prosecute the case, with support from counterterrorism experts and federal investigators. As of now, there have been no additional suspects named, and it remains unclear if other military facilities were under consideration as potential targets.
