A former Michigan National Guard member has been arrested just hours before executing an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a U.S. military base that could have resulted in devastating casualties.
Key Takeaways
- Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, plotted an ISIS-inspired attack on the Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command facility in Warren, Michigan
- Said conducted surveillance using a drone over the base and provided armor-piercing ammunition and magazines to individuals he believed were ISIS operatives
- FBI agents arrested Said on May 13, 2025, the day of the planned attack, after a comprehensive undercover operation
- The suspect faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization
- Said served in the Michigan Army National Guard from September 2022 to December 2024 before being discharged for failing to complete entry requirements
ISIS Sympathizer Within Our Ranks
Federal authorities have thwarted what could have been a devastating terrorist attack on American soil by one of our own. Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a 19-year-old former Michigan Army National Guard member, was arrested on May 13, 2025, while allegedly preparing to carry out a mass shooting at the Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) facility near Detroit. Said is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to destructive devices, crimes that carry up to 20 years imprisonment per count.
Said’s military background adds a particularly alarming dimension to this case. He served in the Michigan Army National Guard from September 2022 until December 2024, when he was discharged after failing to complete initial entry requirements. This incident raises serious questions about the vetting process for military personnel and the potential for radicalization within our armed forces. The suspect’s insider knowledge of military operations and training could have made his planned attack exponentially more dangerous had law enforcement not intercepted his plot.
Meticulous Planning Exposed
Court documents reveal the extraordinary lengths to which Said went to prepare his attack. The suspect conducted reconnaissance of the military installation using a drone to capture footage of potential entry points and security measures. More disturbingly, he acquired and supplied armor-piercing ammunition and magazines to two individuals whom he believed were ISIS operatives but were actually undercover FBI agents. Said even provided training on firearms and the manufacturing of Molotov cocktails, demonstrating his commitment to causing maximum casualties.
“ISIS is a brutal terrorist organization which seeks to kill Americans. 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. Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism.” said United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Click On Detroit
The suspect’s arrest occurred just as the plot was moving to its execution phase. Said was taken into custody immediately after launching his surveillance drone near the TACOM facility on the very day he had planned to carry out the attack. This timing highlights the imminent danger that was averted and the effectiveness of counterterrorism operations. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked in close coordination with Army Counterintelligence Command throughout the investigation, demonstrating the critical importance of interagency cooperation in national security matters.
🚨 AX INTEL REPORT – ISIS-Inspired Targeting DOD Facility
Subject: Arrest of Former National Guard Member for ISIS-Inspired Plot Targeting U.S. Military Facility
Date: 14 May 2025
📝 What is this report about?
This report outlines the arrest of Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said,… pic.twitter.com/1fLXKtZCjv
— AMERICAN | kinetix (@AXactual) May 14, 2025
National Security Implications
This case underscores the ongoing threat posed by ISIS-inspired lone wolves and the continued vulnerability of military installations on American soil. It also highlights President Trump’s longstanding warnings about the need for more rigorous vetting of individuals with access to sensitive facilities and military training. The threat of domestic terrorism remains significant, especially when potential attackers have military backgrounds that provide them with tactical knowledge and training that can make their attacks more lethal.
“This defendant is charged with planning a deadly attack on a U.S. military base here at home for ISIS. Thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement, we foiled the attack before lives were lost. We will not hesitate to bring the full force of the Department to find and prosecute those who seek to harm our men and women in the military and to protect all Americans.” – Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The Michigan National Guard has emphasized its commitment to maintaining high professional standards and accountability in response to this incident. Brigadier General Rhett R. Cox has stressed the importance of counterintelligence efforts and urged vigilance among soldiers to prevent insider threats. Said’s preliminary court hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2025, where more details about his radicalization process and planning may come to light. His case serves as a stark reminder that the war against Islamic terrorism continues to be fought not just overseas, but on American soil as well.
