A former Michigan National Guard soldier was arrested just moments before executing an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a U.S. military base, where he had planned to kill fellow service members after conducting drone surveillance and supplying armor-piercing ammunition to accomplices.
Key Takeaways
- Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, was arrested on May 13, 2025, for allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired attack on the Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command facility near Detroit
- Said conducted reconnaissance using a drone and supplied armor-piercing ammunition to undercover FBI agents posing as ISIS operatives
- The suspect served in the Michigan Army National Guard from September 2022 to December 2024 before being discharged for failing to complete initial entry requirements
- If convicted, Said faces up to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device
ISIS-Inspired Plot Foiled at Critical Military Installation
Federal authorities have thwarted what could have been a devastating terrorist attack on American soil. Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a 19-year-old former Michigan Army National Guard member, was arrested on May 13, 2025, just as he was allegedly preparing to carry out a mass shooting at the Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) facility at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. Said is facing serious federal charges, including attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device, each carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence.
The arrest came after an extensive FBI investigation revealed Said’s alleged allegiance to ISIS and his detailed plans to attack the military installation. According to court documents, Said served in the Michigan Army National Guard for approximately two years, from September 2022 until December 2024, when he was discharged for failing to complete initial entry requirements. This insider knowledge of military operations appears to have informed his attack planning, raising serious concerns about vetting procedures and counter-intelligence efforts within our armed forces.
Detailed Planning and Law Enforcement Intervention
Said’s preparations for the attack were methodical and advanced. He allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the military facility using a drone, gathering intelligence on security measures and potential entry points. More disturbing still, he supplied armor-piercing ammunition and magazines to individuals he believed were ISIS operatives but who were actually undercover FBI agents. The suspect reportedly provided training on firearms and even instructed the undercover agents on how to create Molotov cocktails, demonstrating his intent to cause maximum casualties.
“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,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Law enforcement officers arrested Said on the day of the planned attack, just after he had launched his surveillance drone near the TACOM facility. This timing suggests authorities were monitoring his activities closely and intervened at the critical moment to prevent bloodshed. The successful interdiction highlights the effectiveness of our counter-terrorism infrastructure when properly functioning, though serious questions remain about how a former military member could become radicalized to the point of planning an attack on his former comrades.
National Security Implications and Response
The case has significant implications for national security and military readiness. It reveals the ongoing threat posed by ISIS-inspired terrorism on American soil and raises questions about the vulnerability of critical military installations. The fact that the suspect was a former National Guard member underscores the risks of insider threats and the need for continuous monitoring of personnel with access to sensitive facilities and information. This incident is a stark reminder that the war against Islamic terrorism continues, despite the Biden administration’s attempts to downplay these threats.
“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.
The Michigan National Guard has responded to the incident by reaffirming its commitment to high professional standards and accountability. Brigadier General Rhett R. Cox emphasized 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 alleged plot are expected to emerge. This case serves as a sobering reminder that America’s enemies, both foreign and domestic, remain determined to strike at our military and civilian populations, making President Trump’s focus on national security and border control more critical than ever.
