A Michigan defense attorney is pushing back against allegations from FBI Director Kash Patel that five young men were involved in plotting a violent terror attack over Halloween weekend.
According to The Associated Press, Patel announced the arrests on Friday, calling the operation a success that thwarted a potential “terrorist attack.” But defense lawyer Amir Makled, who represents a 20-year-old from Dearborn, said the FBI has provided little evidence — and that no such plot existed.
“I don’t know where this hysteria and this fearmongering came from,” Makled told the Associated Press, adding that he doesn’t expect any charges will be filed.
Federal authorities have so far released few details. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit did not respond to media requests for comment on Saturday.
Two officials briefed on the investigation, speaking anonymously to the AP, said discussions in an online chatroom appeared to reference a “pumpkin day” attack — possibly linked to Halloween. They said investigators believed the suspects may have been influenced by Islamic State group extremism, though it’s unclear whether they had the means to carry out any attack.
Makled described the group, all U.S. citizens aged 16 to 20, as a circle of online gamers rather than extremists.
“If these young men were on forums that they should not have been on or things of that nature, then we’ll have to wait and see,” Makled said. “But I don’t believe that there’s anything illegal about any of the activity they were doing.”
Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to public safety following the arrests.
Patel credited the FBI’s “vigilance” and coordination with local law enforcement for preventing what he described as a potential attack.
Since the September 11 attacks, the FBI has conducted multiple sting operations involving suspects allegedly inspired by foreign terrorist organizations.
