3 Teens Plotted Halloween Terror Attack in Shocking FBI Case

Federal authorities have thwarted a chilling ISIS-inspired Halloween terror plot targeting American civilians, arresting five young men—including three 19-year-olds—from New Jersey and Michigan who allegedly planned to wage jihad on U.S. soil using firearms, encrypted chats, and ISIS propaganda.

Targeted locations included gay nightclubs, amusement parks, and possible mass gatherings during “Halloweekend.”

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force made multiple arrests this week in a sweeping, multi-state operation that law enforcement insiders say may have prevented “one of the deadliest terror attacks on American soil since 9/11.”

“They were radicalized, armed, and ready to act,” said a federal agent close to the case. “Their goal was to kill in the name of ISIS, right here at home.”

Who Are the Suspects?

• Tomas Kaan Guzel (19, Montclair, NJ)
  → Arrested at the airport attempting to flee to Istanbul, allegedly en route to ISIS training camps in Syria.
  → Charged with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
• Milo Sedanet (19, NJ)
  → Accused of sharing antisemitic threats, amassing a personal arsenal, and training at shooting ranges.
  → Charged with transmitting interstate threats.
• Ayob Nasser (19, Dearborn, MI)
  → Arrested Wednesday; believed to be part of a Michigan cell planning Halloween-week attacks.
• Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud (both from Dearborn, MI)
  → Arrested last Friday in a connected raid.
  → Charged with plotting terrorist attacks and illegal firearms possession.

According to sources, Guzel was under surveillance by an NYPD counterterrorism officer after allegedly sharing encrypted messages with ISIS recruiters and his fellow U.S.-based radicals.

Federal court documents reveal that the suspects were actively scouting potential attack sites—including:

• LGBTQ+ nightclubs in Ferndale, Michigan
• An amusement park believed to be Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio
• Civilian gatherings during Halloween weekend events

Online searches recovered from shared computers included, “is it crowded on halloweekend”—indicating they were analyzing crowd density for maximum casualty impact.

“We are dealing with young men who pledged loyalty to ISIS, communicated in code, trained with weapons, and targeted innocent Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in a video released on X (formerly Twitter).

Photographic evidence shared by prosecutors shows Guzel posing in front of the ISIS flag while brandishing a knife. Others in the group reportedly purchased tactical gear, swords, knives, and ammunition and were seen training at shooting ranges in recent months.

Sedenet is accused of transmitting graphic hate messages with violent imagery and stockpiling weapons “in preparation for a mass attack,” according to court records.

Their coded term for the plot? “Pumpkin.” A twisted nod to Halloween, used as a codeword for a potential massacre.

Investigators believe Guzel and another unnamed individual from Kent, Washington, had firm plans to cross into Syria via Turkey, where they would receive training from ISIS militants. His rushed flight plans were reportedly moved up after fellow plotters were arrested last week, indicating he feared exposure.

The FBI conducted simultaneous searches at his residences in Montclair, NJ and Seattle, WA, seizing electronic devices, weapons, and terrorist propaganda materials.

The amusement park Cedar Point confirmed it cooperated with the FBI during the investigation after suspects were spotted on park grounds in the lead-up to Halloween.

“There was no substantiated threat to the park,” the company said in a statement. “But our surveillance capabilities provided key information to investigators.”

In a late-night post on Truth Social, President Donald J. Trump praised federal agents for their swift action:

“Another Islamic terror plot stopped by our great law enforcement. We are not going to let radical jihadists destroy our country. Not on my watch. 🇺🇸”

Homeland Security officials said that additional arrests are possible, and monitoring of online extremist activity has been ramped up ahead of Veterans Day weekend.

SOURCE: ABC News