Glassboro, NJ – A Rowan University student was among several individuals arrested by federal agents this week in connection with what authorities describe as a foiled ISIS-inspired terror plot planned to coincide with Halloween.
The FBI said the suspect, identified as a Montclair, New Jersey resident, was taken into custody Tuesday at Newark Liberty International Airport before boarding a flight to Istanbul.
University President Ali A. Houshmand confirmed in a letter to the campus community that the individual had been enrolled at Rowan this fall and is now in federal custody.
Key Points
- FBI arrested a Rowan University student accused of involvement in an ISIS-linked terror plot.
- Three additional suspects from Dearborn, Michigan, were also charged with conspiring to support ISIS.
- Federal officials say the suspects discussed attacks on LGBTQ+ venues and planned to train overseas.
FBI arrests suspect at Newark Airport
Federal agents arrested the New Jersey student, identified by ABC News sources as Guzel, at Terminal B of Newark Liberty International Airport. Investigators allege he was preparing to travel to Syria through Istanbul to join ISIS. Evidence reportedly includes photos showing him posing with an ISIS flag and a knife, along with communications referencing planned attacks against the LGBTQ+ community in Detroit.
Authorities said three Michigan men — Ayob Nasser, Mohmed Ali, and Majed Mahmoud — were also arrested in connection with the same plot. According to federal prosecutors, the group had been acquiring firearms and ammunition, conducting target practice, and sharing extremist content online.
University confirms cooperation with FBI
In his campus-wide letter, President Houshmand assured students and staff that “at no time during the investigation was there ever a threat to the University community.” He emphasized that Rowan has fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the case and continues to follow federal guidance.
The university’s statement stressed that safety and transparency remain top priorities as federal authorities lead the ongoing investigation.
Michigan suspects accused of preparing attacks
Court documents allege the Michigan defendants used encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate and share ISIS-related propaganda. Prosecutors say the group used the code word “pumpkin” to refer to their planned Halloween attacks.
An amended 92-page complaint outlines that Nasser, Ali, and Mahmoud allegedly practiced with firearms and scouted potential attack sites in Ferndale, Michigan, targeting locations known to attract members of the LGBTQ+ community. The complaint also references online searches about the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
Federal investigation continues
The FBI said additional suspects and overseas contacts are being investigated. All four individuals currently face federal charges of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and possessing firearms intended for use in an act of terrorism.
Federal officials said the arrests prevented an imminent threat and credited cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies for disrupting what they described as a “coordinated and dangerous plot.”