Two New Jersey Men Taken Into Custody, One Tuesday, One Wednesday, Over Alleged Roles In A Michigan ISIS-Inspired Halloween Attack Scheme
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 4:00 P.M. ET 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, & Art Fletcher, Crime Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
NEWARK, NJ.- Two New Jersey residents have been arrested in connection with an alleged ISIS-inspired terror plot aimed at the Detroit region on Halloween night, federal and local law enforcement officials confirmed today.
According to investigators, Milo Sedarat, 19, of Montclair, New Jersey, was taken into custody early Wednesday, November 5, at his family’s home. Sedarat is accused of maintaining communications with individuals linked to the Michigan-based conspirators and with contacts overseas, allegedly discussing travel to Syria for extremist training.
A second suspect, Tomas Kaan Guzel, 19, also of Montclair, was arrested on Tuesday, November 4, at Newark Liberty International Airport. Authorities say he was preparing to board a flight to Istanbul, believed to be en route to join ISIS-affiliated militants abroad. Both men are currently being held pending formal charges in federal court in Newark.
Federal officials said the arrests were part of a multi-state investigation led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, working with the Newark field office, the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, and federal prosecutors in New Jersey and Michigan. Investigators reportedly tracked encrypted communications, travel plans, and online posts referencing extremist ideology prior to the arrests.
The New Jersey developments follow criminal charges filed on Monday against two 20-year-old Michigan residents, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, both from Dearborn. They are accused of orchestrating a Halloween-night attack targeting LGBTQ+-friendly bars in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale. According to a federal complaint unsealed on Monday, November 3, 2025, in the Eastern District of Michigan, the suspects allegedly planned to carry out a “Paris-style” assault using AR-15-type rifles, shotguns, and tactical equipment.
Authorities said Ali and Mahmoud conducted reconnaissance of local nightlife venues, practiced at area shooting ranges, and obtained large quantities of ammunition. Investigators discovered encrypted communications linking the Michigan suspects to several out-of-state associates, including the two New Jersey men and a minor identified only as “Person 1.”
The Michigan case centers on violations of federal statutes prohibiting the transfer of firearms for use in terrorism. The complaint alleges a total of five co-conspirators, in addition to the minor, were connected to the group’s planning activities.
Law-enforcement sources said the arrests in New Jersey were “coordinated and preemptive,” taking place before the suspects could either flee or communicate with the Michigan defendants. Both men’s residences were searched under federal warrants, with agents seizing digital devices and materials referencing ISIS propaganda.
Background On The Investigation;
Court documents from Michigan describe a sophisticated surveillance effort leading up to the arrests. Agents utilized pole-mounted cameras, phone-tracking data, and undercover monitoring of encrypted messaging platforms. Investigators also seized weapons, tactical gear, and recordings from homes and a storage unit in Inkster, Michigan.
Officials have not publicly identified specific targets in Michigan, but documents reference plans to attack several LGBTQ+-friendly bars in Ferndale, mirroring tactics used in ISIS-inspired attacks abroad.
What’s Next;
Both New Jersey defendants are expected to appear before a federal magistrate in Newark later this week. Federal prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will be charged in the same conspiracy as the Michigan defendants or under separate terrorism statutes.
Ali and Mahmoud remain in federal custody in Detroit and face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of providing weapons or material support for terrorism. Additional charges could be added as the investigation broadens to include other states and potential online collaborators.
National security analysts said the case highlights the ongoing risk of homegrown terrorism inspired by ISIS propaganda networks and the challenges posed by encrypted communication tools that enable extremists to coordinate across state lines.
Authorities have not yet disclosed any evidence that the suspects received direct orders from overseas operatives, but emphasized that the threat remains under active investigation.
Editor’s Note:
All information in this report is based on verified statements from the Department of Justice, the FBI, and multiple credible news outlets, including Reuters, the Associated Press, ABC News, and ABC 7 New York. Further updates will be provided as court proceedings continue and additional filings become available.
