(WXYZ) — A 19-year-old Melvindale man is charged with attempting to carry out an attack at a military base in Warren on behalf of ISIS.
Video reports: 'Never expected it': Melvindale man charged in plot to attack Warren military base
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device.
Read the full complaint by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
The complaint alleges Said told undercover law enforcement officials he had a plan to carry out a mass shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) facility at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren.
WATCH: Melvindale man allegedly planned to carry out ISIS attack at military base in Warren
Said allegedly gave material assistance to the attack plan, including providing ammunition and magazines, training the undercover officers on firearms and building Molotov cocktails, flying his drone over TACOM for reconnaissance, and outlining details of the building.
Federal officials say Said was planning this attack for more than a year.
Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below:
During one of their meetings, according to the complaint, Said showed the undercover officers a training video on drawing weapons against potential threats and reportedly told them, "for us, whether they're armed or not, it's shoot-to-kill."
Said was arrested on May 13, the reported scheduled day of the attack, after he went near TACOM and launched his drone, officials say.
WATCH: Video shows raid in connection to alleged attack plan
Prior to his arrest near the base, federal agents say they had found troubling chats on his phone in support of ISIS during a voluntary search when he visited the base in uniform. Said was allegedly radicalized due to his strong views against the United States and Israel.
“ISIS is a brutal terrorist organization which seeks to kill Americans. Helping ISIS or any other terrorist organization prepare or carry out acts of violence is not only a reprehensible crime – it is a threat to our entire nation and way of life. Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said in a news release.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who commands the Michigan National Guard, released the following statement about the case:
I'm thankful for the strong partnership of our law enforcement agencies to thwart an attack on brave service members and civilian employees at Detroit Arsenal. We have a zero-tolerance policy for threats of terrorism or acts of violence in our state. Michigan service members step up every day to protect our national security at home and overseas. We will continue to have their backs.
People who know Said were shocked to hear what authorities say he was planning.
“He was a nice guy. Never expected it. If I were to choose any Melvindale person I know, he would be the last one,” Basim Shemman, a friend of the suspect, said.
Those who used to work at the base say the evidence in troublesome.
“It just goes to show that anyone can be radicalized,” said Coryne Forest, a former TACOM employee.
Additional reporting: Melvindale neighborhood on edge after man charged with planning terror plot
Melvindale City Councilman Saleim Abuali said he knows Said and his family and there were never any red flags. Abuali said the allegations are no excuse to open the door to racial stereotypes about Muslims and ISIS.
“It’s abnormal. It’s not something we expected to happen to someone in the community,” Abuali said. “He represents himself only, he doesn’t represent the whole community."
If convicted, Said faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
Neither family of the defendant nor his attorney would comment when 7 News Detroit saw them in court Wednesday. Said remains in custody without bond before his next court date.
