Foiled Plot and Arrest of Former National Guardsman
Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a 19-year-old former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, was arrested on charges of plotting a terrorist attack targeting a U.S. military base in Warren, Michigan. Federal authorities accused Said of meticulously planning to launch an assault on the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) facility located within the Detroit Arsenal in Warren. The arrest occurred on the very day he intended to carry out the attack, after he was observed launching a reconnaissance drone near the intended location. Said faces serious charges, including attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a foreign terrorist organization, and distributing information related to a destructive device, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to court documentation and statements from federal authorities, Said unwittingly engaged undercover FBI agents who posed as sympathizers willing to collaborate with ISIS. He provided armor-piercing ammunition, weapon magazines, and detailed guidance on executing the assault, including recommending specific weapons and tactics such as using multiple magazines to avoid running out of ammunition during the attack.
“I recommend everyone have about seven magazines because you don’t want to be in there and run out of ammo,” Said reportedly advised undercover agents.
The collaborative undercover investigation, conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Army Counterintelligence Command, was instrumental in thwarting the assault, ensuring no casualties or damage occurred. Authorities have emphasized that Said’s plans reached advanced stages, including drone reconnaissance missions over the base to survey targets and training co-conspirators on firearms and explosive devices.
Detailed Timeline and Investigation Insights
Said joined the Michigan Army National Guard in September 2022, undergoing basic military training at Fort Moore in Georgia. However, by December 2024, he was discharged under unclear circumstances, not specified publicly in the official complaint documents. Shortly thereafter, the investigation indicates that he began carefully orchestrating the assault on the TACOM facility. The Detroit Arsenal, of which TACOM is a critical component, houses approximately 144 active-duty Army personnel along with 8,000 civilian employees and contractors, underscoring the potentially catastrophic impact had this attack succeeded.
During the months leading up to his arrest, Said meticulously planned every detail of the intended mass shooting, from infiltrating the base to targeting specific buildings. He also provided undercover FBI agents with hands-on training, including instructions on operating firearms effectively and creating Molotov cocktails designed to maximize harm and disruption.
“The arrest of this former soldier is a sobering reminder of the importance of our counterintelligence efforts to identify and disrupt those who would seek to harm our nation,” stated Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, commanding general of the Army Counterintelligence Command.
Investigators also discovered digital evidence of Said’s allegiance to ISIS, including explicit propaganda materials and a recorded video pledging fidelity to the terrorist organization’s leader. His arrest occurred promptly after the undercover agents, acting as fellow terrorists, signaled readiness to execute the plan—coinciding with Said’s launch of the drone to conduct operational reconnaissance near the base.
Historical Context and Broader Security Implications
The planned attack by Said resonates with a troubling history of domestic threats influenced by international terrorist entities, particularly ISIS, which continues to inspire individual acts of terrorism despite its territorial setbacks. Since ISIS’s territorial defeat in the Middle East, security officials globally have noted the danger posed by sympathizers operating independently or in small groups, often inspired by online propaganda disseminated by the organization.
In recent years, the FBI and other counterterrorism agencies have intensified efforts to combat the rising threat of homegrown terrorism, conducting numerous undercover and sting operations to prevent attacks like the one plotted by Said. Reports from the Homeland Security Department highlight that domestic terrorist efforts inspired by foreign extremist ideologies remain a significant and evolving threat to national security.
Said’s case further underscores the critical role of military and intelligence collaboration in counterterrorism efforts. The close cooperation between federal investigators and Army Counterintelligence was praised by senior military officials and law enforcement authorities involved in the arrest. The successful disruption also illustrates the importance of vigilant surveillance and community awareness in thwarting domestic terrorist threats before they develop into actual violence.
“Helping ISIS or any other terrorist organization prepare or carry out acts of violence is not only a reprehensible crime—it is a threat to our entire nation and way of life,” stated U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
The broader implications of this incident extend beyond the immediate arrest. Policymakers and security officials may use the event to reassess existing security protocols at military installations nationwide, potentially affecting defense policies and prompting deeper inquiries into the vetting processes for military personnel.