It was a Halloween morning like no other in Dearborn, Michigan—a city known for its vibrant Arab American community and the headquarters of the Ford Motor Company. Instead of the usual anticipation of trick-or-treaters and festive decorations, residents awoke on October 31, 2025, to the sounds of loud bangs, flashing lights, and a heavy law enforcement presence. By sunrise, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had announced it had thwarted what it described as a “potential terrorist attack,” sending ripples of relief and anxiety through the region.
FBI Director Kash Patel took to social media early that Friday morning, revealing that multiple individuals had been arrested in Michigan for allegedly plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend. "This morning the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend," Patel wrote, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. He went on to thank the men and women of the FBI and law enforcement “standing guard 24/7 and crushing our mission to defend the homeland.”
Patel’s announcement was short on specifics. He did not say exactly where in Michigan the operation took place, nor did he reveal the identities of the suspects or the precise nature of the alleged plot. However, local law enforcement and neighbors quickly filled in some of the blanks. According to the Detroit Free Press and Reuters, FBI and SWAT officers conducted raids on homes on Middlepointe Street and Horger Street in Dearborn, as well as investigating a storage facility in nearby Inkster. These Detroit suburbs, especially Dearborn, are no strangers to law enforcement activity, but the scale and urgency of Friday’s operation were unprecedented for many longtime residents.
Neighbors recounted being startled awake by what sounded like gunshots or explosions. Holly Kemp, who lives two houses down from the Middlepointe home that was searched, described hearing a series of loud bangs around 4 a.m. “About 30 minutes after my husband let the dog out, he heard a loud bang, followed by four more bangs,” Kemp told the Detroit Free Press. She and other residents watched as FBI and SWAT officers swarmed the quiet, tree-lined street. “You don’t see them out at all,” said May Mokdad, who has lived in the neighborhood for two decades. “It’s scary and terrifying.”
A similar scene played out on Horger Street, where Alicia Irfas described hearing a big boom between 5 and 5:30 a.m., followed by a voice over a loudspeaker instructing the home’s occupants to get out. “It was pretty loud,” Irfas said. “It woke everyone up.” Despite the drama, both Irfas and Kemp insisted that their neighborhoods are typically peaceful and close-knit—nothing like this had ever happened before.
While the FBI has not released the names of those arrested, neighbors and deed records provided some clues. Online records list Muadh Sharmani as having taken out a mortgage on the Middlepointe home in 2010, but Sharmani insisted to the Detroit Free Press that he did not own the property in question. He also revealed that a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody, saying, “It’s only a suspicion. Hopefully he will be released very soon... Any moment now.”
According to sources close to the investigation cited by The Associated Press, the alleged plot was reportedly inspired by ISIL (ISIS), and the suspects are believed to have been radicalized online. A Justice Department official told Reuters that the plot was expected to take place over Halloween weekend and was tied to international terrorism. Five people, including some teenagers, were being questioned by authorities on Friday.
Dearborn Police Chief and city officials moved quickly to reassure residents. In a statement, the department said, “The Dearborn Police Department has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the city of Dearborn earlier this morning. We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time.” Inkster Police Chief Tamika Jenkins echoed this message, confirming that her department would deploy additional officers to ease concerns during Halloween trick-or-treating.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was briefed by Director Patel on the morning of October 31 and later expressed her gratitude for the swift action of federal and state law enforcement. “As details continue to develop, I am grateful for the swift action of the FBI and MSP protecting Michiganders,” Whitmer said in a statement. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel added her praise, stating, “I’m very, very grateful for the FBI’s work in protecting the community and keeping people safe, and I’m sure we’ll learn more about the details publicly later. But I’m thankful for their good work.”
Despite the heightened sense of alarm, officials were unified in their message that there was no ongoing threat to public safety. Detroit FBI spokesman Jordan Hall confirmed that agents were present in both Dearborn and Inkster but would not say whether the operations were directly related to the plot described by Patel. “There is no current threat to public safety,” Hall said.
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, weighed in on the arrests: “We’re catching people before they even start.” The Trump administration has taken a notably aggressive stance on terrorism, with Patel’s February 2025 appointment as FBI director seen as part of a broader push to expand the use of “terrorist” designations, including against Latin American gangs and antifa.
This incident is not the first time the FBI under Patel’s leadership has intervened in a terrorism-related case in Michigan. Back in May, the bureau arrested Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a 19-year-old former member of the Michigan National Guard, for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a U.S. Army base in Warren, Michigan, also on behalf of ISIL (ISIS). According to a U.S. government statement, Said had provided undercover agents with ammunition, drone surveillance, and operational details for the planned attack. He was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information about a destructive device.
As Halloween festivities resumed in Dearborn and Inkster, the mood was a mixture of relief and unease. Residents, many of whom have lived in these neighborhoods for decades, expressed shock but also gratitude for the rapid response of law enforcement. “We’ve never really had anything happen like that before,” said Irfas, reflecting a sentiment echoed by many in the community.
While the full details of the alleged plot and the fate of those arrested remain to be seen, the swift actions of federal and local authorities have, at least for now, ensured that Michigan families could enjoy a safe and happy Halloween—even if the memory of this year’s fright will linger long after the costumes are put away.
