WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – The FBI revealed what they found inside the homes of two suspects and a storage unit while investigating an alleged terrorist plot in Dearborn.
On Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud were charged in connection with the alleged plot.
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They are each facing a count of “receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer, firearms and ammunition knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearms and ammunition would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism.”
What was found during searches
In the criminal complaint, FBI special agent Nicholas Czech outlined what officials said they found when they searched the homes of Ali and Mahmoud.
Here’s what they said they found in the homes:
- Three AR-15-style rifles
- Two shotguns
- Four handguns
- More than 1,600 rounds of ammunition -- compatible with the AR-15-style rifles that were found
- Optical sights
- Two GoPro cameras
- A flash suppressor
- Tactical vests
- Other gun parts and accessories
FBI officials said they also searched a storage unit rented by Ali and visited by Mahmoud.
Here’s what they said they found in the storage unit:
- Two chest rig vests
- Two black tactical backpacks
- 24 empty magazines compatible with the three AR-15-style riles.
More about the alleged plot
Ali and Mahmoud were arrested on Friday. In Monday’s court documents, the FBI references a “Person 1″ -- someone who is under 18 years old. That person was part of conversations between “brothers” in an encrypted conversation, according to the criminal complaint.
“Person 1 and Ali were referenced in third-party conversations conducted in July, September, and October 2025 via an encrypted communication application in which other individuals stated that ‘brothers’ to specifically include Person 1 and Ali are planning to conduct a terrorist attack in the United States on behalf of the designated foreign terrorist organization ISIS.”
The complaint says Mahmoud was also found to be involved in the planned attack.
FBI officials said Ali bought a shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle, and gun accessories like a forced reset trigger that increases the rate of fire for a semiautomatic weapon.
Mahmoud is accused of buying an AR-15-style rifle in September 2025. He is also accused of buying gun accessories.
In October 2025, Mahmoud bought more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition for the rifles he and Ali bought, according to FBI officials in the complaint.
Mahmoud, Ali, Person 1, and two co-conspirators -- referred to throughout the complaint as co-conspirator 4 and co-conspirator 5 -- practiced shooting at gun ranges in September and October, according to the FBI.
“Based on my investigative experience, I believe this was to develop their firearms skills in furtherance of an attack,” FBI special agent Nicholas Czech wrote.
The complaint provides various dates when some combination of the five people went to shooting ranges. It also says that Ali, Mahmoud, and Person 1 met at parks in or around Dearborn on multiple nights in October.
“Based on the information described below, I believe Person 1, Ali, and Mahmoud traveled together to scout potential attack target locations in Ferndale, Michigan,” Czech wrote.
The complaint says all five people regularly communicated with each other and other people who showed knowledge of the possible attack plans.
The group is also accused in the complaint of sharing “extremist and ISIS-related materials that encourage attacks similar to what they planned.”
“Person 1 and Ali discussed when to conduct their attack, when they appeared to set for Halloween, and they sought guidance from the father of a local Islamic extremist ideologue on this question,” the complaint reads.