WASHINGTON; The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has claimed to have thwarted an alleged terrorist plot in Michigan, arresting several suspects believed to be planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, saying, “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.” He added that more details about the operation and the suspects will be disclosed soon.
Patel praised the efforts of federal agents and law enforcement, saying they remain “on guard 24/7 to defend the homeland.” While he did not specify the exact location of the operation, local reports indicate FBI activity in Dearborn and Inkster, both suburbs of Detroit.
Dearborn police later issued a public statement assuring residents that there was “no ongoing threat to the community.” The city, home to a large Arab American population and the Ford Motor Company headquarters, saw heightened law enforcement activity early Friday.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also confirmed being briefed about the situation, expressing gratitude for the FBI’s “swift action in protecting Michiganders.”
This marks the second such incident reported under Patel’s leadership. Earlier in May, the FBI arrested a 19-year-old former Michigan National Guard member accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. army base in Warren, Michigan.
Patel, appointed by President Donald Trump in February, has emphasized a tougher approach toward domestic and international terror threats, including efforts to expand “terrorist” designations to non-state groups and violent extremist networks.
