During a call on Oct. 17, Ali reportedly told another participant that there was “some new plan for real,” adding that he would organize a meeting to finalize details. Two days later, he and an unnamed individual again mentioned “pumpkins,” a reference the Justice Department links to the timing of the attack.
Weapons purchases and firearms training
According to the complaint, Ali and Mahmoud purchased a shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle, and a forced reset trigger designed to increase the fire rate of semiautomatic weapons. Investigators say the men, along with three unnamed co-conspirators, practiced shooting at several ranges around the state and conducted additional firing exercises in remote outdoor areas.
When agents searched multiple properties on Friday, they seized additional AR-15-style rifles, shotguns, handguns, tactical vests, and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition compatible with the rifles. The government asserts that the training regimen and accumulated firepower mirrored preparations observed in previous terrorist incidents.
Influence of prior ISIS attacks
Transcripts included in the filing indicate that the defendants drew inspiration from high-profile Islamic State operations. In one discussion, they reportedly said they would remain in the United States to do “the same thing as France,” an apparent reference to the November 2015 attacks in Paris. In another exchange, they spoke of striking a nightclub, citing the 2016 Pulse shooting in Orlando, which the Islamic State later claimed.
Initial tip and digital evidence
The investigation originated in 2024 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection examined the phone of a traveler linked to the group. Agents allegedly found searches for “ISIS” and images of an individual in military clothing with firearms. Subsequent monitoring uncovered group calls in which Ali, Mahmoud, and others discussed traveling overseas to join the extremist organization, then pivoted to carrying out violence domestically.
Prosecutors contend the defendants shared propaganda and operational guidance through encrypted platforms, posting materials that encouraged attacks similar to those under consideration. For additional background on the Islamic State’s online influence operations, the Counter Extremism Project provides extensive analysis of the group’s digital footprint.
Government response
Attorney General Pam Bondi commended the FBI for disrupting the alleged conspiracy “before innocent lives were lost.” The Justice Department said the arrests underscore the continued threat posed by homegrown extremists who draw tactical and ideological support from international terrorist organizations.
Imagem: Internet
Ali and Mahmoud are charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and with firearms offenses related to the acquisition of the forced reset trigger. If convicted, they face significant prison terms. Both men are scheduled for initial appearances in federal court this week, where detention hearings will determine whether they remain in custody pending trial.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not ruled out additional arrests. Officials have not disclosed the specific location targeted for the alleged Halloween assault or whether law enforcement recovered any finalized attack plans. The three unnamed co-conspirators referenced in the complaint have not been publicly charged.
Under federal law, providing material support to a terrorist group carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Firearms violations tied to a terrorism offense can add further decades to a sentence.
In the filing, agents emphasized that swift action was necessary because the suspects had already secured weapons and ammunition and had narrowed their timeline to the final weeks of October. Surveillance and informant reports suggested the men were “moving ahead” despite signs of hesitation voiced during an Oct. 19 conversation.
Federal prosecutors did not reveal how investigators first gained access to the encrypted chats but acknowledged that digital surveillance, undercover engagements, and traditional investigative methods all played roles in documenting the alleged conspiracy.
Ali and Mahmoud remain in federal custody. The court has appointed defense counsel for each defendant, but neither has entered a plea. The Department of Justice said it will continue to release information as the case proceeds.
Crédito da imagem: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
