A chilling plot to unleash terror on Halloween night has led to a series of arrests, with federal authorities expanding their investigation. Two more individuals, Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzal and Milo Sederat, were taken into custody Tuesday, deepening the scope of a case that already gripped the nation in fear.
The initial arrests on Monday targeted Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, both 20 years old and from Dearborn, Michigan. Court documents reveal a disturbing scheme involving multiple collaborators, including a juvenile, all allegedly driven by a desire to inflict mass harm.
Investigators uncovered evidence of meticulous planning, including the accumulation of a significant arsenal of weapons. This included semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, handguns, and a staggering quantity of ammunition – over 1,600 rounds – discovered during searches of the suspects’ homes and a shared storage unit.
The intended targets were chillingly specific: LGBT nightclubs in Ferndale, Michigan. The suspects are accused of actively scouting these locations, preparing to carry out an attack reminiscent of the horrific events at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the Bataclan theatre in Paris.
The operation, internally dubbed “Pumpkin,” was reportedly inspired by these past tragedies, demonstrating a deliberate and calculated intent to replicate the devastation. Authorities believe the suspects were actively preparing to strike on Halloween night, aiming to maximize fear and casualties.
The NYPD’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau played a crucial role in the apprehension of Jimenez-Guzal and Sederat, working in concert with federal agencies to dismantle the network. The investigation remains active, with authorities indicating that further arrests are possible as they continue to identify and locate additional accomplices.
Ali and Mahmoud are currently being held without bail, awaiting a detention hearing in Detroit. Details regarding court dates for Jimenez-Guzal and Sederat have not yet been released, but the investigation continues to unfold, promising further revelations about this disturbing plot.
