Members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force search a home in Dearborn, Michigan, on October 31, 2025.
Jeff Kowalski | AFP | Getty Images
A Michigan defense attorney is disputing FBI Director Kash Patel’s claims that his 20-year-old client and four other young suspects were planning a terrorist attack over Halloween weekend.
Patel, who announced the arrest Friday, said more information would be released soon, but the FBI and Michigan authorities have released few details about the case. State and national FBI spokespeople and the Detroit U.S. Attorney did not immediately respond to messages Saturday.
The investigation involved discussions in online chat rooms in which at least some of the detained suspects participated, said two people briefed on the investigation, who could not discuss details publicly. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. One of the people said the group had discussed carrying out the attack around Halloween, in honor of Pumpkin Day. A second person briefed on the investigation confirmed there was a reference to “pumpkin.”
But Amir Makled, an attorney representing the man from suburban Dearborn who was still in custody Saturday, said federal authorities have not given the man many details about the investigation, but after reviewing the matter, he concluded that the terrorist attack was not planned. He said he does not expect charges to be filed.
He described an all-male group of Americans as gamers, and said they ranged in age from 16 to 20.
“If these young people were participating in a forum that they shouldn’t be participating in or something of that nature, we’d have to wait and see,” McCread said. “But I do not believe that any of the activities they were doing were illegal.”
Authorities announced Friday after the arrest that there was no further threat to public safety. “The FBI has thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan suspected of planning violent attacks over Halloween weekend,” Patel said in a post on X.
Investigators say the plot was inspired by Islamic State militants. It was not immediately clear whether they had the means to carry out the attack, but the Halloween reference prompted the FBI to make the arrests on Friday, one of the people familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.
Patel credited the FBI’s vigilance, along with the assistance of local authorities, for thwarting the plot.
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the FBI has thwarted several suspected attacks through sting operations in which agents pose as terrorist sponsors and provide advice and equipment.
