Copyright WDIV ClickOnDetroit
FERNDALE, Mich. – Two people are facing charges in connection with an alleged terrorist attack plot in Michigan, and new court documents show that the suspects were potentially scouting areas of Ferndale. Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud are each facing a count of “receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer, firearms and ammunition knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearms and ammunition would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism,” in connection with allegedly planning the attack. According to criminal complaints filed for both of them, investigators learned about encrypted conversations linked to the alleged planned attack, meetups that took place at Dearborn parks and gun ranges, and the suspects’ travels to Ferndale. The people involved Throughout the criminal complaint, the FBI refers to multiple people who were allegedly involved in the plot, including the following: Majed Mahmoud -- charged in the alleged attack. Mohmed Ali -- charged in the alleged attack. Person 1 -- a person under 18 years old who is referenced throughout. Co-conspirator 4 -- another person mentioned in the court documents. Co-conspirator 5 -- another person mentioned in the court documents. Read more --> Dearborn terror plot: Encrypted chats, AR-15s, gun range visits linked to planned attack, FBI says Phones travel to Ferndale, records show According to the criminal complaint, investigators obtained search warrants for phone records for all known numbers associated with Ali, Mahmoud and Person 1. They discovered that on Sept. 19, 2025, Person 1’s phone traveled to Ali’s home and was there between 7:25 p.m. and 9:50 p.m., before both of their phones went to the area of Hemlock Park in Dearborn. They were at the park from 9:50 p.m. to 11:20 p.m., before they traveled to downtown Ferndale. The phone data shows that they were in Ferndale from about 11:45 p.m. to 12:05 a.m., before going back to Ali’s house, according to the complaint. Records for Mahmoud’s phone show that he was also in Ferndale, in the same vicinity, at the same time. Then, at around 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2025, Ali and Person 1’s phones traveled around Dearborn, then to Melvindale and then to downtown Ferndale again, the FBI said. The phones were in Ferndale from 11:36 p.m. to 12:01 a.m., records showed. The FBI agent said that “based on another FBI agent’s review of the pole camera footage that was originally placed outside of Person 1’s residence on or about August 17, 2025,” Person 1’s trips to Ferndale are not his “normal pattern of travel.” FBI: Suspects were potentially scouting attack locations in Ferndale “The area in Ferndale to which Person 1 and ALI traveled on both September 19 and 20, 2025, and MAHMOUD traveled on September 19, 2025, includes numerous bars and restaurants, including three bars/clubs identified by the FBI based on this data. All three of these clubs are located on Woodward Avenue near East Nine Mile. Many of the clubs and bars in this area intentionally attract members of the LGBTQ+ community,” according to the complaint. Due to all Ali, Mahmoud and Person 1 being under 21, the FBI agent said it was “unlikely” that they went to Ferndale to patronize these clubs. Also, on an encrypted phone call that multiple co-conspirators were on, one of them said, “Knowing Athari [Person 1], it’s [the attack is] probably going to be at like a club, a disco.” Due to this, the FBI agent believed that these visits to Ferndale could have been “attempts to ‘scout’ locations of a possible attack before carrying it out.” Oakland County executive’s statement on Ferndale connection Oakland County Executive David Coulter released the following statement about Ferndale businesses and LGBTQ+ communities being potential targets: “Learning that Ferndale and the LGBTQ+ community were among the potential targets of a terrorist attack is disturbing. The pain of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy in Orlando, Fla. nine years ago while I was serving as mayor of Ferndale is still deeply felt in the community. I’m grateful for the FBI, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement for their diligence in seeking out and preventing what could have been another mass tragedy.” Oakland County Executive David Coulter
