TL;DR
- Two men in Michigan accused of planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack targeting LGBTQ bars in Ferndale.
- The FBI discovered weapons, ammunition, and GoPro cameras after weeks of surveillance.
- The suspects allegedly planned a Halloween assault reminiscent of the 2016 Pulse massacre.
- The FBI said the operation “likely saved countless lives.”
- The LGBTQ community in Ferndale is reeling but grateful for the prevention of another tragedy.
FBI Stops Halloween Horror Before It Begins
The FBI says it prevented what could have been another Pulse-style massacre — this time in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, a hub for Michigan’s LGBTQ community. Two 20-year-old men, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud of Dearborn, allegedly plotted an ISIS-inspired shooting attack targeting LGBTQ bars on Halloween night. Authorities say the men, along with several unnamed co-conspirators including a minor, planned to unleash violence on venues known to “intentionally attract members of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Investigators claim Ali and his accomplice, referred to as “Person 1,” intended to carry out the attack while others planned to leave the U.S. to join ISIS forces in Syria. Surveillance revealed that the suspects scouted multiple LGBTQ venues along Woodward Avenue near 9 Mile Road in Ferndale — a stretch lined with bars, drag-friendly spaces, and queer-owned businesses.
When agents raided their homes and a storage unit in nearby Inkster, they found an arsenal fit for war: AR-15 rifles, shotguns, pistols, thousands of rounds of ammunition, tactical vests, and GoPro cameras — the kind terrorists often use to record their crimes.
Pulse Flashbacks and a Community on Edge
Dave Coulter, Oakland County executive and former gay mayor of Ferndale, called the allegations “deeply disturbing,” drawing parallels to the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting that left 49 dead in Orlando. For many in Michigan’s queer community, that comparison cuts deep — another reminder of how hate-fueled ideology continues to threaten safe spaces for LGBTQ people.
The Pulse massacre reshaped how queer venues across the country view safety, leading to security upgrades and trauma that still lingers. For Ferndale, this near-tragedy is a sobering wake-up call. “Ferndale has always been a beacon for LGBTQ people in Michigan,” Coulter said. “To know it was targeted like this is chilling.”
FBI Director Kash Patel later confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the operation “stopped a massacre before it could happen.” His message made clear that the Bureau viewed this as more than just another terror plot — it was a direct assault on the LGBTQ community’s right to exist safely and proudly.
Hate and Faith Twisted Into Violence
Ali and Mahmoud now face federal charges for attempting to transfer weapons and ammunition for use in a “federal crime of terrorism.” If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors allege that their plan was motivated by extremist ideology, not personal grievance — another example of how radicalization weaponizes religion against queer people.
This case highlights an uncomfortable truth: despite years of progress, LGBTQ Americans remain targets of extremist hate, both foreign and domestic. And while the FBI’s swift action prevented bloodshed, the fear it uncovered will linger far longer than the headlines.
Ferndale’s queer bars — often the heart of its nightlife — will reopen, as they always do. But behind the laughter, there’s a quiet understanding that safety is never guaranteed. The community’s resilience, however, remains unshaken.
As one Ferndale resident put it, “They tried to scare us, but we’ve been scared before. We’re still here — and we’re still dancing.”