KENT—Saed Ali Mirreh,19, of Kent, Washington, has been arrested and charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, in connection to a foiled Halloween terrorism plot in Michigan.
“Update on the alleged foiled terrorist attack out of Michigan last week – earlier this week the FBI and partners arrested a 6th subject in connection to the case, this time out of Washington state. This was another individual allegedly providing material support, inspired by ISIS,” wrote FBI Director Kash Patel on X.
Mirreh, a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody at his family home in Kent on Tuesday, November 5, by federal agents. The arrest marks the latest development in Halloween terror plot that has led to multiple detentions across the U.S. and abroad, including in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
Federal prosecutors in the District of New Jersey unsealed the charges against Mirreh, accusing him of engaging in encrypted online communications that plotted his travel to join ISIS fighters overseas.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Mirreh communicated extensively with another suspect, 20-year-old Tomas-Kaan Jimenez-Guzel of New Jersey, about plans to travel from the U.S. to Turkey and onward to Syria to align with ISIS. The pair allegedly shared images of firearms, ISIS propaganda materials, and an ISIS-branded hat, while discussing physical training regimens, evading law enforcement, and pledging oaths of loyalty to the group.
Their conversations reportedly intensified following the arrest of several individuals in the Detroit area on October 31, the day of Halloween, who authorities believe were plotting an ISIS-inspired attack in Dearborn and nearby Inkster, Michigan. Those suspects, radicalized online, referred to the holiday as “pumpkin day” in their discussions of a potential assault, sources familiar with the probe told the Associated Press.
Mirreh, described in court documents as having no prior criminal record and strong family ties in Washington state, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle L. Peterson in Seattle federal court on the day of his arrest. The judge ordered Mirreh detained pending trial. He is scheduled for an initial appearance in New Jersey, where the case will proceed.
Author: Mario Lotmore
