Federal authorities have charged several suspects in Michigan with possessing firearms as part of an alleged conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS, according to the Department of Justice.
The FBI arrested the suspects Friday after uncovering what officials described as a plan involving AR-15 rifles, tactical gear, and other weapons. The unsealed criminal complaint alleges the group intended to carry out a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
“This newly unsealed complaint reveals a major ISIS-linked terror plot with multiple subjects arrested in the Eastern District of Michigan targeting the United States,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a DOJ press release. “According to the complaint, subjects had multiple AR-15 rifles, tactical gear, and a detailed plan to carry out an attack on American soil.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrests were the result of months of investigative work. “We’ll continue to follow the facts, uphold the law, and deliver justice for the American people,” he said.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. praised the coordinated effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. “We are thankful for the exceptional work of the FBI in keeping the homeland safe,” Gorgon said.
“FBI Detroit and its Joint Terrorism Task Force are relentless in ensuring the safety of the citizens of Michigan and beyond,” added Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office. “We will utilize every available federal resource to disrupt and dismantle any individuals or groups who threaten national security.”
The DOJ said the investigation is ongoing.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.