DETROIT – Two of the three Dearborn suspects accused of planning a terror attack are scheduled for a detention hearing at 10 a.m. Monday.
Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud face charges including conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and possessing firearms intended for terrorism on behalf of ISIS.
The FBI director confirmed six people were arrested in connection with the case, with arrests spanning coast to coast. The latest suspect was taken into custody in Kent, Washington, just outside Seattle.
Law enforcement also arrested two more suspects in New Jersey.
Investigators reveal the group used online chats and code words to plan attacks while attempting to avoid detection.
The key code word that alerted FBI officials to the now-foiled Halloween terror attack was the use of the word “pumpkin” and pumpkin emojis.
Officials believe the targets included Cedar Point in Ohio and LGBTQ-friendly clubs and restaurants in Ferndale.
Related --> FBI suggests Dearborn terror plot suspects might have been planning attack at Cedar Point
Federal agents conducted raids in Dearborn and Inkster 10 days ago as part of the investigation on Halloween.
Defense attorneys initially claimed there was no credible evidence of a planned mass casualty event but now say they need more time to review the evidence.
The case has raised concerns in Ferndale, where community members remain resilient despite feeling shell-shocked.
“What happened on Halloween was sort of a wake-up call for a lot of us that this is something – hatred happens everywhere,” said Brenden Bell, associate director of programs and services at Affirmations LGBTQ community center.
The FBI uncovered evidence pointing to a planned mass casualty event, including more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition, AR-15 style rifles, shotguns, handguns, and other weapons.
Investigators revealed the suspects used emojis in group chats to reference possible attack dates, with pumpkins symbolizing Halloween and fireworks indicating New Year’s Eve.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a great concern,” said Dave Duncan, a volunteer at Affirmations. “Anything like that – any attack. It’s not like it’s the first attack that’s happened in the community or anything like that…I’m here to mainly – because this is one way for me to fight back.”