Three Dearborn Men Indicted in Foiled ISIS-Inspired Terror Plot Targeting Chicago Pride Parade and More

Image: Jihad Watch

In a chilling revelation from federal court documents, three young men from Dearborn, Michigan, face serious charges for allegedly plotting a series of ISIS-inspired attacks, including a bomb assault on Chicago's 2024 Pride Parade. The indictment, unsealed this week, underscores the ongoing vigilance of U.S. law enforcement against domestic extremism, with the FBI crediting its intervention for preventing what could have been a devastating strike against the LGBTQ+ community and other public venues.

Mohmed Ali, Majed Mahmoud (age 20), and Ayob Nasser—all residents of Dearborn—were formally indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday for conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, as well as conspiracy to acquire and transfer firearms and ammunition intended for acts of terrorism. The charges stem from an investigation that exposed their communications in an online Discord group dubbed "Islamic State of America," where members openly discussed violent operations in the name of the extremist group.

According to unsealed court filings, the plot's ambitions were broad and escalating. As early as June 2024, one group member boasted about targeting Chicago's annual Pride Parade, scheduled for June 8. In a post that has since drawn widespread alarm, the individual wrote: "InshaAllah We will be att@cking the Chicago pride parade with a backpack," adding, "We are planning on starting with a couple small attacks to get noticed and then start growing from there inshaallah." This reference to a "backpack" bomb echoed tactics used in past ISIS-affiliated assaults, raising fears of a low-tech but high-impact device deployed amid the parade's massive crowds.

By September 2024, the suspects had reportedly shifted into action, scouting potential strike sites stretching from Ferndale, Michigan—a Detroit suburb known for its vibrant nightlife—to the heart of Chicago. Their plans allegedly expanded to include anti-LGBTQ+ themed attacks timed for Halloween weekend later that year, zeroing in on nightclubs in Ferndale and even the popular Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Investigators described the group as methodically preparing: they stockpiled weapons, including firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition; acquired body armor and tactical gear; and made repeated trips to local shooting ranges for practice sessions.

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force moved swiftly to dismantle the network. Ali and Mahmoud were arrested on October 31, 2024—Halloween eve—during coordinated raids in Dearborn and nearby Inkster, where authorities seized an arsenal of illegal weaponry and attachments. Nasser was apprehended a week later. In total, eight individuals have been detained across Michigan, New Jersey, and Washington state in connection with the probe, though the indictment focuses on the Dearborn trio as key coordinators.

FBI Director Kash Patel first alerted the public to the thwarted plot via social media on the day of the initial arrests, emphasizing the bureau's role in averting "a potential terrorist attack" without specifying details at the time. The Chicago Police Department, a longstanding partner in the task force, reaffirmed its commitment to public safety in a statement: "CPD takes every threat seriously and puts measures in place to ensure public safety." Notably, organizers of the Chicago Pride Parade were not briefed on the specific threat until media inquiries surfaced this week, learning of the plot only after the indictment.

The revelations have reverberated through Chicago's LGBTQ+ community, where the Pride Parade draws over a million attendees annually as a beacon of celebration and defiance. Equality Illinois and parade coordinators issued a joint response expressing profound gratitude to law enforcement: "We are grateful to the City of Chicago and our dedicated public safety partners for helping protect the Chicago Pride Parade year after year. This moment reminds us why Pride matters. When we show up, stand together, and celebrate openly, we affirm our visibility and our resilience. We will continue to march in solidarity, with deep gratitude for everyone who helps keep our community safe."

In Dearborn—a city with one of the largest Arab-American populations in the U.S.—the arrests have stirred a mix of relief and unease. Local leaders have urged against broad stigmatization, noting the suspects' actions do not represent the broader Muslim or immigrant communities. "This is a tragedy that highlights the dangers of online radicalization, but it also shows our system's strength in stopping it before harm," said one anonymous community advocate reached by reporters.

The case also spotlights broader concerns about encrypted online spaces fostering extremism. Discord, the platform at the center of the plot, has faced scrutiny for inadequate moderation of terrorist content, though the company has not commented specifically on this incident. Experts warn that such groups exploit social isolation and ideological echo chambers to recruit and plan, often targeting high-visibility events like pride festivals to maximize shock value.

As the defendants prepare for detention hearings—Mahmoud and Ali's scheduled for Monday—the U.S. Attorney's Office vows a vigorous prosecution. "These individuals conspired to bring violence to our communities in the name of a terrorist organization," Acting U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. stated in court filings. "We will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

This foiled scheme serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by ISIS sympathizers on American soil, even years after the group's territorial caliphate crumbled. With trials looming, questions linger about how many more such plots lurk in the digital shadows—and whether current safeguards are enough to keep the light of public gatherings burning bright.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)