A 19-year-old man from Kent, Washington, has been arrested in a case tied to a foiled terror plot in Michigan. This marks the eighth arrest linked to a planned attack around Halloween.
The FBI arrested Saed Ali Mirreh on Wednesday. They say he was in touch with seven other alleged supporters of ISIS who have also been taken into custody. Mirreh and another suspect, Tomas-Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, face charges for providing material support to a terrorist organization and attempting to do so.
So far, five individuals connected to this case have been arrested in Michigan. They are accused of buying weapons and scouting locations like gay bars and amusement parks for a potential attack. A defense attorney has discredited these allegations.
In New Jersey, Jimenez-Guzel and another suspect, Milo Sedarat, were also arrested. Mirreh and Jimenez-Guzel allegedly planned to travel to Turkey in November to join ISIS as fighters. Federal documents suggest that once news of the arrests broke, they hurried their travel plans. Jimenez-Guzel was caught at Newark Airport trying to leave for Turkey.
During a recorded phone call, Jimenez-Guzel expressed concern about being targeted by law enforcement. He mentioned needing to get out quickly before they were found. Their communications contained chilling images, including one of Jimenez-Guzel in front of an ISIS flag.
Mirreh’s past includes a counterterrorism investigation while he was still a minor. Back then, he had discussed possible attacks with someone in Canada, who has since also been arrested. Despite this, Mirreh claimed he didn’t intend to act on those conversations.
Recent insights from experts show that the rise in digital connections can lead to real-world plans that are easier to coordinate. Rebecca Weiner from the NYPD emphasized this point, noting that individuals involved in these plots come from various backgrounds, even affluent families.
The FBI has continued monitoring Mirreh’s online activities and communications, revealing links with overseas ISIS supporters, discussions about violence, and plans to travel for training. This highlights a concerning trend where online affiliations are transitioning into plotting real attacks.
Keeping track of such developments is critical in preventing future threats. You can find more detailed insights in recent FBI reports and studies on terrorism trends here.
