Seattle-area 19-year-old arrested for foiled Halloween ISIS-inspired terror plot in Michigan

According to court documents obtained by KOMO News, federal authorities accuse Saed Ali Mirreh, a US citizen, of conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Washington, Mirreh allegedly acted as a financial facilitator, helping to fund potential travel to Syria and coordinating with contacts overseas.

Prosecutors say Mirreh’s activities were linked to an investigation in Michigan involving two 20-year-old Dearborn residents, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, who allegedly plotted an ISIS-inspired mass shooting in the Detroit area that was planned to take place over Halloween weekend.

Court filings allege Mirreh raised thousands of dollars through an online scammer in Sweden, maintained communications with extremists via encrypted platforms, and booked a flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Istanbul, a common gateway for travel to Syria, just hours before his arrest on November 5.

In the Michigan case, FBI investigators said Ali and Mahmoud had acquired AR-15-style rifles, shotguns, tactical vests, GoPro cameras, and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition. They allegedly practiced at shooting ranges, scouted LGBTQ+ bars in Ferndale, Michigan, and referred to their planned attack by the code name “pumpkin.”

Although Mirreh was not in Michigan at the time, investigators say he was part of the same overarching conspiracy. Court documents describe him as the “finance guy,” allegedly helping to support travel and operations abroad while the Michigan suspects planned to “do the same thing as France,” a reference to the 2015 Paris attacks.

The FBI’s investigation into Mirreh dates back to August 2023, when agents searched his Kent home after receiving a tip linking him to someone in Canada facing terrorism-related charges. Then a minor, Mirreh admitted to consuming ISIS propaganda and discussing potential attacks online but denied any intention to act. He was released at that time.

Agents interviewed Mirreh again in January 2024, when he denied any continued contact with extremist groups. However, by July 2025, investigators said his Instagram account was once again used to communicate with ISIS-linked individuals, prompting renewed surveillance.

According to prosecutors, Mirreh’s recent activities included coordinating financial transfers overseas, soliciting support for extremist causes, and arranging international travel to ISIS-held territory.

Following the October 31 arrests of Ali and Mahmoud in Dearborn, investigators traced related communications back to Washington.

The FBI said that Mirreh and Tomas-Kaan Jimenez-Guzel of New Jersey were going to travel to Turkey on November 16 and 17, but when the arrests of the suspects in Michigan were made public, both “accelerated their travel plans.” On Tuesday, Jimenez-Guzel was arrested at the food court in Newark Airport when he was about to leave for Turkey.

On a recorded call Friday, Jimenez-Guzel told a “FBI confidential human source” that he was aware of the arrests and that they needed to leave town as soon as possible. Jimenez-Guzel said: “The feds are gonna be looking for us in a week maybe, so we are leaving today or tomorrow … we are leaving, akhi, immediately … we have a new ticket, we got one today … we are all leaving soon … five of us are in the article and the feds ... they’re gonna be looking for us soon. If we don’t leave, we are cooked.” Communications between Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh included a picture of Jimenez-Guzel “in front of the ISIS flag while holding a knife” and a picture of Mirreh wearing an ISIS hat.

Mirreh was taken into custody at his Kent residence on November 5. Authorities seized his passport, phone, and laptop.

During questioning, Mirreh allegedly admitted he intended to fly to Istanbul and then continue into Syria to join ISIS as a fighter. His flight was scheduled to depart within hours of his arrest.

In a video statement, US Attorney Alina Habba outlined the charges against Mirreh and two additional suspects, including Jimenez-Gazelle and Milo Siderot, who allegedly sent violent antisemitic threats online.

“From October 2024 to November 2025, these individuals used encrypted messaging apps to plan travel to Turkey and Syria to join ISIS as fighters,” Habba said. “They discussed detailed travel plans, weapons, and methods to avoid detection. They pledged themselves to ISIS and were plotting acts of terrorism in our country.”

Mirreh faces charges of conspiracy and attempt to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, offenses carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. In Michigan, Ali and Mahmoud face up to 15 years for transferring firearms and ammunition in furtherance of terrorism.

W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office, praised the coordination between agencies: “This is a top priority for the FBI in Washington. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force remains vigilant, working behind the scenes with our partners to protect our nation from threats, both foreign and domestic.”

FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed the connection on X: “Earlier this week, the FBI and partners arrested a sixth subject connected to the Michigan plot, another individual allegedly providing material support, inspired by ISIS.”

Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Newark, emphasized the importance of prevention: “Our most important mandate is to stop something bad from happening before it happens. We did that here, and we will continue to do it every single day.”