A former member of the Michigan Army National Guard has been taken into custody for allegedly planning a mass shooting inspired by ISIS at a military base near Detroit, according to federal prosecutors.
Anmar Abdulmajid-Mohamed, 19, was arrested on Tuesday and reportedly aimed to execute a violent attack on the TACOM facility, which oversees the Army’s tank supply chain. This was allegedly influenced by his connections with extremist groups. The U.S. Department of Justice provided this information.
The plot was thwarted when a Melvindale resident disclosed Abdulmajid-Mohamed’s intentions to two undercover FBI agents posing as fellow ISIS supporters.
“The defendant is accused of conspiring to attack a U.S. military base on behalf of ISIS,” said Sue J. Bye, the Justice Department’s National Security Director, in a statement.
“Thanks to relentless law enforcement efforts, we halted the attack before anyone was harmed. We are committed to using the full force of the law to identify and prosecute those aiming to harm our military personnel and all Americans.”
Reports indicate that Abdulmajid-Mohamed had been planning the attack for about six months. He was to use drones for reconnaissance of the facility and train others to deploy weapons like Molotov cocktails to maximize casualties.
Before his arrest, he worked as a security guard and had been discharged from the hospital in December, though the reasons for his discharge remain unclear. Officials mentioned that he launched a drone near the military base as part of his scheme.
A federal complaint includes an image of Abdulmajid-Mohamed with an ISIS flag, signaling his allegiance to the group’s leadership.
“ISIS is a ruthless terrorist organization that seeks to harm Americans,” stated Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Assisting ISIS or other terrorist groups in planning or executing violent acts poses not just a legal offense but a significant threat to our communities and way of life. Our office will not tolerate such actions.”
He is charged with attempting to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and disseminating information regarding explosive devices. If found guilty, Abdulmajid-Mohamed faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each charge.
