Michigan man's alleged foiled terrorist attack: Melvindale neighbors react
A Melvindale man's plan to carry out a domestic terrorist attack at a U.S. military base in Southeast Michigan was thwarted by undercover officers.
Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said had planned to assault the TACOM base in Warren on behalf of ISIS.
He was taken into custody on the day of the attack.
MELVINDALE, Mich. (FOX 2) - A Melvindale man was arrested and placed behind bars Wednesday night after he allegedly tried to attack a military base in Warren.
Meanwhile, his neighbors are shocked that the investigation unfolded just steps from their home.
Big picture view
Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said was charged with two felony counts in the U.S. Eastern District of Michigan. He was taken into custody on the day he planned to carry out the assault on the U.S. Army's Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command, also known as TACOM.
Said's plan to attack the Detroit Arsenal facility in Warren was discovered by two undercover officers in April 2025.
Meanwhile, neighbors are stunned as many didn't know him or the family, saying everyone on the block is friendly but keeps to themselves. They, including Ann Messinger and Robert Mazur, never expected what happened on Wednesday.
"To, you know, come out of your bedroom and see all these cars and tanks—not tanks, but cars and everything—it's very scary. Very, very," Messinger said.
The quiet block of Henry Street in Melvindale was shaken by the scene that unfolded on Tuesday.
"I was going to watch TV yesterday and I turn around and I'm watching that all day. It was better than CSI. Really good stuff. It's shocking. It's scary," Mazur said.
"I was totally scared when all the FBI cars were there. And they wouldn't let us know what's going on," said Messinger.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Said planned to carry out the attack on May 13. Instead, he was arrested after traveling near TACOM and launching a drone to help carry out the attack.
Neighbors say the feds were in and out of his home for at least three hours.
Feds say Said, who was once a member of the Michigan Army National Guard, told undercover agents of his plan of attack, providing them with ammo.
Feds arrested him on Tuesday, the day he wanted to execute his plan.
What they're saying
The U.S. Attorney based in Michigan called any assistance to ISIS a reprehensible crime and a "threat to our entire nation."
"Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism," attorney Jerome F. Gorgon said.
The commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command said the arrest of a former solider was a "sobering reminder of the importance of our counterintelligence efforts to identify and disrupt those who would seek to harm our nation."
"We urge all Soldiers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to their chain of command, as the safety and security of our Army and our nation depends on our collective efforts to prevent insider threats," said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox.
What's next
Said is expected to be arraigned on federal charges Wednesday afternoon.
He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count if convicted.
The Source
A press release from the Department of Justice was used in this story.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
2 days ago
- CNN
US military kills ISIS leader in Syria
The US military killed a senior ISIS leader in a raid in Syria on Friday, as well as two of his ISIS-affiliated sons, according to a release from US Central Command. The senior leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, as well as his two adult sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, 'posed a threat to US and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,' the CENTCOM release said. Three children and three women who were on-site were unharmed. Few other details about the raid were provided. While the US has conducted anti-ISIS missions with partner forces without some regularity over recent months and years, it is less common for US forces to conduct ground raid operations instead of airstrikes. 'We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate,' CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla said in the release. 'ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide.' Over recent months and years, the US has continued supporting and conducting anti-ISIS missions with partner and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq. In May, the US military supported six operations — five in Iraq, one in Syria — which resulted in the death of two ISIS operatives and the detention of two others, including an ISIS leader, CENTCOM said last month. In March, the US military conducted a precision airstrike in Iraq and killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, the terror group's chief of operations and Delegated Committee Emir, and one other ISIS operative. The US announced it was beginning a withdrawal of roughly half its forces in Syria in April, which the Pentagon said was a sign of the 'significant steps' made towards degrading ISIS capabilities in the region. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said at the time that the US military would ultimately have less than a thousand US forces in the country as a result. Friday's raid comes just weeks after the Trump administration said it was revokingthe foreign terrorist organization designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group once led by Syria's interim president. It also comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially ending US sanctions on Syria.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
US, Israel announce targeted killings of terror leaders in Syria and Lebanon
The U.S. and Israel announced on Friday that their respective forces had killed terror leaders from ISIS and Hezbollah in separate counterterrorism operations. CENTCOM troops carried out a raid in al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, and killed senior ISIS leader Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, who also have ties to the terror organization, according to a statement from CENTCOM. It added that three women and three children who "were also on the target" were unharmed in the raid. "These ISIS individuals posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government," CENTCOM said in a statement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based organization, said the raid was the first of its kind. The group also stated that ground troops of SDF-backed special units and Damascus special forces participated in the operation, though Fox News Digital was unable to confirm their involvement. Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, vowed U.S. forces would "relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists." "ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate and where they hide," Kurilla said in a statement. "Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies and our homeland." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced its troops had killed Ali Mohammad Hassan Qoutan, who served as the personnel officer for Hezbollah's Bint Jbeil sector. According to the IDF, Qoutan was involved in efforts to rebuild the organization, which was dealt a blow when Israel killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024. "The terrorist's activities constitute a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the IDF wrote in a statement. Israel recently concluded a 12-day war with Iran while simultaneously fighting Hamas in Gaza in a war that has been ongoing since the brutal attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
U.S. Central Command says it killed senior ISIS leader, two adult sons
Gen. Michael E. Kurilla announced Friday that Central Command forces killed a senior ISIS leader an his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons. File photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo July 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Central Command announced Friday that it had conducted an operation in Aleppo, Syria, killing a senior Islamic State leader and his two adult sons. Those killed in the raid by U.S. forces were: Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. The sons were also affiliated with ISIS, a press release said. Three women and three children also were there and were unharmed, officials said. "We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command commander. "ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. "Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland." The press release said the ISIS officials threaten the United States and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian government. The attack comes weeks after the White House ordered a drawdown of U.S. military presence in Syria, which had about 2,000 personnel on eight bases in the area. Hundreds have returned home recently. Syria's Foreign Ministry released a statement earlier on Friday that said its representatives had met with American and French officials to "reinforce our cooperation on the shared fight against terrorism in all forms, and strengthen the capacities of the Syrian government to deal with security challenges through institutions of the state."
