A cryptic “pumpkin day” reference, an online chat about an ISIS-inspired attack, and a trip to a shooting range to practice high-speed AK-47 reloads are among the details tied to a potential Halloween-weekend plot the FBI says it disrupted.
The claim came in a social media post by FBI Director Kash Patel. Two law-enforcement sources told CNN about the “pumpkin day” mention, the chat, and the range activity, while stressing that public details remain limited.
Two people were arrested and three others were being questioned, according to officials with knowledge of the case. Attorney Amir Makled, who represents one adult in custody, told CNN that three people were arrested, two were questioned, and two more were questioned and released. CNN has asked the FBI to clarify the numbers.
“Let evidence lead, not rumor.”
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What we Know
Patel wrote on X that agents “thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend.” CNN’s John Miller said the FBI’s Detroit field office moved overnight into the morning, taking people into custody, serving search warrants, and issuing subpoenas for phones, computers, and other materials.
Makled urged patience until verifiable facts are out. He said his client, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen who has not been publicly identified, is cooperating and has not been formally charged. In a statement, he argued there was no planned mass-casualty event or coordinated terror plot, describing the group as having a lawful interest in recreational firearms. He said all firearms were legally obtained and registered, and warned against rhetoric that could harm Michigan’s large Arab and Muslim communities, especially in Dearborn.
Facts
Before dawn, Dearborn resident Laraib Irfan said he woke to loud bangs he described as smoke bombs and saw FBI agents outside a neighbor’s home two doors away. He said he is close to the family, saw some occupants handcuffed outside, and is seeking answers about what happened.
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What remains unclear is the precise scope of the alleged plan, who will face charges, and how investigators ultimately interpret the “pumpkin day” messages and training activity. Authorities have not released names or a charging timeline.
