AK-47s, online chats and a ‘pumpkin day’ reference lead FBI to avert a potential ISIS-inspired terror attack
By Holly Yan, Brynn Gingras, CNN
(CNN) — A group of people who allegedly chatted online about an ISIS-inspired attack went to a shooting range with AK-47s, practiced high-speed reloads and made a reference to “pumpkin day,” authorities said. That’s when investigators jumped into action.
Multiple people were arrested Friday when the FBI averted a possible terrorist attack planned for Halloween weekend, Director Kash Patel said.
“This morning the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend. More details to come,” Patel posted on X.
The plot was inspired by ISIS and unfolded in online chatrooms, two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the case told CNN.
Two participants have been arrested, and three others are being questioned, one of those officials said.
An FBI undercover person was introduced into the chatroom in the early stages of discussion, that official added.
“The FBI swept out from the Detroit field office last night and through this morning, taking people into custody, executing search warrants and doing subpoenas for phones, computers and other material,” said John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst.
“This all relates to an investigation that started months ago into people who were communicating online with each other here in the United States … but also talking to people overseas, possibly connected to ISIS,” Miller said, citing conversations with law enforcement officials who had been briefed.
The participants discussed whether to carry out an ISIS-inspired plot in the US – “though what that plot was, when that plot would be, what the target would be, was unclear as they discussed various options in terms of timing,” Miller said.
But this week, a group of those being monitored went to a shooting range with AK-47s, “fired a large number of rounds of ammunition, practiced tactical high-speed reloads” and apparently made a reference to “‘pumpkin day’ – a possible reference to Halloween,” the FBI jumped into action, Miller said.
The FBI’s Detroit field office confirmed “the FBI in Michigan were present in the cities of Dearborn and Inkster this morning conducting law enforcement activities,” spokesperson Jordan Hall told CNN. “There is no current threat to public safety.”
In the city of Inkster, the FBI carried out “law enforcement activities at a storage facility located on Michigan Avenue,” Police Chief Tamika L. Jenkins said.
She said local FBI agents confirmed there is no threat to residents. But to assuage any concerns, Inkster police “will have additional personnel deployed throughout the evening to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, particularly those participating in Halloween festivities,” the police chief said.
The Dearborn Police Department said it “has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the City of Dearborn earlier this morning.”
“We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time,” the police department said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer thanked the FBI and Michigan State Police for their quick work.
“This morning, I was briefed by Director Patel on the thwarted potential terrorist attack in our state,” she posted on X. “As details continue to develop, I am grateful for the swift action of the FBI and MSP protecting Michiganders.”
CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Nicki Brown and Jeff Winter contributed to this report.
Correction: This story has been updated to remove mention of the gender of those involved, as authorities have not yet specified.
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