A 19-year-old former National Guard member’s ISIS-inspired plan to attack a Michigan military base was foiled by undercover FBI agents, averting a potential mass shooting.
At a Glance
- Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, was arrested for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on Detroit Arsenal.
- Said conducted drone surveillance and provided armor-piercing ammunition to undercover FBI agents posing as ISIS supporters.
- The FBI’s swift intervention prevented a potential mass shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command facility.
- Said faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to explosives, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
- FBI Director Kash Patel praised the agents’ actions, stating they “acted quickly — and they saved lives.”
Strategic Pivot
Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, was arrested on May 13, 2025, for allegedly planning a mass shooting at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. Said had been under surveillance since mid-2024, after engaging in online communications with undercover FBI agents whom he believed were operatives of the Islamic State. Over several months, Said shared detailed plans for a mass casualty attack on U.S. military personnel.
According to federal authorities, Said conducted drone reconnaissance of the targeted base, trained agents in firearms use, and demonstrated how to build Molotov cocktails. He also provided armor-piercing ammunition and discussed tactical elements of the assault, including plans to livestream the attack in hopes of inspiring other jihadists.
Watch a report: BREAKING: Terror attack on US military base thwarted, FBI says.
Risk and Opportunity
This foiled plot underscores the enduring threat of homegrown extremism and the challenge of identifying radicalized individuals within U.S. institutions. Said, a trained military recruit, was entrusted with national defense responsibilities, yet privately idolized a terror group committed to America’s destruction. His trajectory from soldier to ISIS sympathizer raises serious questions about the adequacy of recruitment screening and ongoing personnel monitoring.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that “our agents, intelligence teams, and partners acted quickly — and they saved lives.” The Department of Justice confirmed that Said faces two federal charges: providing material support to a terrorist organization and disseminating bomb-making instructions. Each count carries a sentence of up to 20 years.
This case should prompt a reassessment of domestic counterterrorism priorities and reinforce the need for proactive detection of ideological threats. As authorities continue to disrupt plots like Said’s, the question remains: how many more radicalized individuals lie hidden behind military credentials and digital anonymity?
