Rowan University student among suspects in alleged ISIS-inspired Halloween attack plot
The student reportedly discussed attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Detroit.
GLASSBORO, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Rowan University student is among five suspects arrested in connection with an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to carry out a terrorist attack over Halloween weekend in Michigan.
On Tuesday, federal authorities announced the arrests of Tomas Kaan Guzel and Milo Sedanet, both 19 and from Montclair, New Jersey.
According to Rowan University, Guzel is a computer science student who enrolled this fall as a freshman. He is charged with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Sedanet faces charges of transmitting interstate threats.
Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand addressed the arrest in a letter to the campus community on Thursday, stating, "At no time during the investigation was there ever a threat to the University community. The safety and integrity of our campus community are always our top priorities."
Officials say he was only on campus for two months.
"The FBI had contacted us and told us they had a student that they were watching, a student of interest, and we worked with them and supported them with whatever they needed," said university spokesperson Joe Cardona.
Students were in disbelief when they heard the news.
"It's just scary to know that somebody like that was on this campus," said freshman Dominique Goffney.
RELATED | FBI thwarts potential Halloween weekend terror attack in Michigan
ABC News sources say Guzel was arrested in Newark International Airport's Terminal B before boarding a flight to Istanbul, allegedly en route to Syria. Evidence includes photos of Guzel posing with an ISIS flag and a knife. He was reportedly in communication with other suspects and individuals overseas, discussing attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Detroit and plans to train with ISIS abroad.
Three other suspects - Ayob Nasser, Mohmed Ali, and Majed Mahmoud, all from Dearborn, Michigan - were also arrested.
Nasser was captured on Wednesday and authorities say the two others were arrested last Friday. They face charges of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and having firearms that would be used to commit an act of terrorism on behalf of ISIS.
What we know about plot
According to the amended 92-page complaint that newly charges Nasser, the Michigan men purchased firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition in recent months and had been practicing shooting at gun ranges to allegedly "develop their firearms skills in furtherance of an attack."
The men allegedly "used online encrypted communications and social media applications to share extremist and ISIS-related materials that encourage attacks similar to what they planned," and allegedly used the term "pumpkin" for their plans, according to the complaint.
In mid-September, the three Michigan men are believed to have been allegedly scouting locations for a possible attack, according to the complaint.
Ali, Mahmoud and an unidentified juvenile went to an area of Ferndale, Michigan, known for clubs, and Ali had searched for clubs that "intentionally attract members of the LGBTQ+ community" as well as information on the 2016 shooting at the gay Orlando nightclub Pulse, according to the complaint.
Around the same time, Nasser and another unidentified juvenile traveled to an amusement park three hours from Dearborn, according to the complaint. Someone used a computer apparently shared by Nasser and Ali to search "is it crowded on halloweekend" at the amusement park, according to the complaint.
The complaint did not name the amusement park, though Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, confirmed in a statement to ABC Detroit affiliate WXYZ that the individuals "were recently observed on park property" and that it assisted the FBI in the investigation.
According to ABC News sources, an NYPD undercover officer had been monitoring Guzel, who was allegedly in communication with those arrested in Michigan and others overseas.
Guzel allegedly had planned to travel in two weeks to Turkey and onward to Syria from there, but it's believed he got spooked after last week's arrests and moved his flight up, sources said.
Habba said in a video statement on X that he planned to travel with an individual from Kent, Washington, and that the two "pledged themselves to ISIS and were plotting acts of terrorism in our country."
There were searches at Guzel's home in Montclair and also in Seattle as part of the investigation, sources said.
Habba said the complaint against Sedanet "describes a pattern of antisemitic messages advocating violence along with images and purchases consistent with preparation for attack, including a knife and sword collection tactical gear and images of him practicing at a gun range."
ABC News contributed to this report.
