Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said poses with an ISIS flag in a chilling self-portrait taken before his arrest for plotting a mass-casualty attack on a U.S. Army base in Michigan. Image Credit: United States Army
A Homegrown Threat Emerges
In a chilling reminder that the call to jihad can echo loud and clear even in suburban America, 19-year-old Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, was arrested on May 13, 2025, for plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) facility in Warren, Michigan. Said, discharged from the National Guard in December 2024, had been under surveillance since June 2024 after expressing a desire to wage jihad and discussing plans to attack a military base with individuals he believed were ISIS operatives, who were, in fact, undercover FBI agents.
Another Jihadi Wannabe
This is yet another disturbing example of a disillusioned former soldier trying to wage war against the country he once swore to protect, again under the banner of ISIS. Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, not yet 20 years old, managed to get himself booted from the Michigan Army National Guard last December for failing to complete his initial entry requirements. Instead of doing something productive with his newfound free time, he apparently doubled down on plotting a mass-casualty terror attack on US soil.
His plan puts one immediately in mind of Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, the ISIS-inspired former US soldier who drove his truck down Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day and killed 14 people.
Said, for his part, had his sights set on the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command, better known as TACOM, located at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. Why TACOM? Who knows—maybe the acronym was just easy to spell. What we do know is that Said bought into ISIS’s twisted ideology hook, line, and sinker. He thought he was working hand-in-hand with ISIS operatives to carry out the attack. In reality, the only people he was confiding in were undercover FBI agents, who, let’s be honest, probably couldn’t believe how easy this guy made their job.
As part of his planning, Said went full amateur hour with some homemade reconnaissance. He flew a drone over the base, mapping out access points, guard locations, and likely routes to slip in and cause as much chaos as possible. He wasn’t just playing pretend either—he supplied his new “buddies” with armor-piercing ammo and high-capacity magazines. He wanted this operation to do real damage.
Said didn’t stop at handing out gear. He fancied himself a bit of a jihadi field commander, instructing the agents, who he thought were fellow jihadists, on how to use firearms and build Molotov cocktails. His goal was maximum carnage, and he even pinpointed which buildings inside the base should be hit to achieve that. Tactical planning was part of the package, too.
“I recommend everyone have about seven magazines because you don’t want to be there and run out,” he told one of the agents.
A Homegrown Threat Emerges
In a chilling reminder that the call to jihad can echo loud and clear even in suburban America, 19-year-old Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, was arrested on May 13, 2025, for plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) facility in Warren, Michigan. Said, discharged from the National Guard in December 2024, had been under surveillance since June 2024 after expressing a desire to wage jihad and discussing plans to attack a military base with individuals he believed were ISIS operatives, who were, in fact, undercover FBI agents.
Another Jihadi Wannabe
This is yet another disturbing example of a disillusioned former soldier trying to wage war against the country he once swore to protect, again under the banner of ISIS. Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, not yet 20 years old, managed to get himself booted from the Michigan Army National Guard last December for failing to complete his initial entry requirements. Instead of doing something productive with his newfound free time, he apparently doubled down on plotting a mass-casualty terror attack on US soil.
His plan puts one immediately in mind of Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, the ISIS-inspired former US soldier who drove his truck down Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day and killed 14 people.
Said, for his part, had his sights set on the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command, better known as TACOM, located at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. Why TACOM? Who knows—maybe the acronym was just easy to spell. What we do know is that Said bought into ISIS’s twisted ideology hook, line, and sinker. He thought he was working hand-in-hand with ISIS operatives to carry out the attack. In reality, the only people he was confiding in were undercover FBI agents, who, let’s be honest, probably couldn’t believe how easy this guy made their job.
As part of his planning, Said went full amateur hour with some homemade reconnaissance. He flew a drone over the base, mapping out access points, guard locations, and likely routes to slip in and cause as much chaos as possible. He wasn’t just playing pretend either—he supplied his new “buddies” with armor-piercing ammo and high-capacity magazines. He wanted this operation to do real damage.
Said didn’t stop at handing out gear. He fancied himself a bit of a jihadi field commander, instructing the agents, who he thought were fellow jihadists, on how to use firearms and build Molotov cocktails. His goal was maximum carnage, and he even pinpointed which buildings inside the base should be hit to achieve that. Tactical planning was part of the package, too.
“I recommend everyone have about seven magazines because you don’t want to be there and run out,” he told one of the agents.
Thoughtful guy, really—wouldn’t want your terror squad to have to pause to hunt for ammo during a massacre.
His plans also included a twisted marketing strategy. Said recommended that the team wait to fly their ISIS flag until they were already inside the base. You know, to keep things discreet until go-time. He even suggested strapping on a GoPro to livestream the attack—because what’s a modern terrorist without social media? He reportedly wanted the footage to reference Gaza and Palestine, turning the whole thing into a piece of ISIS propaganda.
The attack was set for May 13, 2025. Said dressed the part—head-to-toe in black—and met up with one of his supposed co-conspirators. Together, they traveled to a location near the base. Said launched his drone for one last look before unleashing hell.
That’s when the FBI decided enough was enough.
Agents swooped in and nabbed him before anything could happen. No shots fired. No casualties. Just one more disillusioned wannabe jihadi going down in flames before he could do any real damage. And now he’s looking at charges that could put him away for decades—likely in a federal facility where drone flights and ISIS cosplay aren’t on the activity calendar.
This whole situation is a sobering reminder that while some threats come from across the ocean, others are born and bred right here at home. Fortunately, this time, the good guys were already five steps ahead.
If convicted, he could be staring down 20 years per charge. That’s 40 years total—plenty of time to think about how playing terrorist in your own backyard is a one-way ticket to a concrete box with no Wi-Fi.
Thankfully, this whole debacle never got past the planning stages. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force led the investigation, and they deserve full credit for playing the long game and stopping Said before anyone got hurt. One less homegrown extremist to worry about—at least for now.
🚨 AX INTEL REPORT – ISIS-Inspired Targeting DOD Facility
Subject: Arrest of Former National Guard Member for ISIS-Inspired Plot Targeting U.S. Military Facility
If the Michigan Army base plot and the horrific New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans taught us anything, it’s that the threat of homegrown violent extremism is alive and well—and it’s not going anywhere. These aren’t overseas terror cells plotting in caves. We’re talking about individuals who live down the street, shop at the same grocery stores, and in some cases, wore the same uniform as those they later plan to target. It’s a brutal reality check for anyone who thinks domestic terrorism is a thing of the past. Wake up and smell the jihad.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the idea that a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard was plotting a mass-casualty attack on an Army base is more than disturbing—it’s a flashing red light for national security. These kinds of threats aren’t coming with billboards or warnings. They’re quiet. They’re calculated. And they’re happening right under our noses. This is the modern landscape of terrorism. It doesn’t require overseas travel or foreign handlers. All it takes is a laptop, an internet connection, and a head full of bad ideas.
Thankfully, the FBI, Army Counterintelligence Command, and other behind-the-scenes heroes weren’t asleep at the wheel. Their undercover operation caught Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said before he could do any real damage. That kind of success doesn’t come from luck—it comes from hard work, long hours, and people willing to stare into the ugliest parts of humanity to keep the rest of us safe. Every attack that doesn’t happen because someone stepped in early is a win. And let’s be clear: without that intervention, this could have easily turned into another front-page tragedy.
The site of the planned attack. Image Credit: The New York Times
But if you think this one arrest means we can breathe easy, think again. The nature of terrorism is that it evolves. Extremists change tactics. They recruit differently. They find new ways to evade detection. That means our counterintelligence game has to stay sharp, adaptive, and just a little bit meaner than the people we’re trying to stop. Complacency is a luxury we can’t afford.
That’s where the rest of us come in. Law enforcement can’t be everywhere. Community awareness matters. If something feels off—say, your neighbor is stockpiling dumptruck loads of fertilizer, acting cagey, and suddenly real interested in foreign terror groups—say something. It’s better to be wrong and cautious than silent and sorry.
Bottom line: We got lucky in Michigan. We didn’t get so lucky in New Orleans. The difference? Timing, intel, and action. We owe a serious debt of gratitude to the professionals who stopped Said before his fantasy became a bloodbath. They won’t get medals or parades, but they quietly pulled America back from the edge—and that’s worth more than most people realize.
So yeah, it’s a wake-up call. The threat is real. It’s close. And it isn’t going anywhere. But neither are the men and women standing between us and disaster.
We just have to keep our eyes open—and have their backs.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
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Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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