Montclair, New Jersey Men Arrested in Connection With Alleged Halloween Terror Plot Inspired by ISIS

This week, federal investigators arrested two Montclair, New Jersey men in a multi-state terror-plot probe related to ISIS. The 19- and 20-year-old men are accused of participating in an encrypted communication network that planned violent attacks in the US and abroad. The arrests follow Michigan charges against other Halloween weekend plotters.

As he planned to leave for Turkey to join ISIS training in Syria, prosecutors arrested one New Jersey suspect at Newark Liberty International Airport. The second suspect was apprehended at his Montclair home after an investigation found firearms, ISIS literature, and Jewish threats. Officials said the communication network used encrypted messaging applications to share strategies, travel plans, and weapon purchase information.

Federal records showed that a Michigan group of young men planned a Paris-style attack. This group allegedly targeted LGBTQ+-friendly locations, bought AR-15 guns, scouted suburban Detroit targets, and arranged travel to join ISIS. Investigators found evidence of a Halloween-themed enterprise called “Pumpkin”. According to the US Attorney for New Jersey, the Montclair men “pledged themselves to ISIS and were plotting acts of terrorism in our country.”

The two New Jersey men face different counts. One is charged of conspiring to fund a terrorist organization, while the other of conveying violent antisemitic threats over interstate and foreign commerce. Police said one suspect posted photos of himself with an ISIS flag and a knife, while the other posted firearms and shooting range photos. The arrests raise fears that radicalization and domestic terror may attract people from unexpectedly wealthy or stable settings.

No evidence suggests the Montclair guys attacked, but the investigation continues. Given the seriousness of the charges, prosecutors aim to seek detention without bail for both individuals in New Jersey federal court. The FBI and US Attorney’s office will investigate all leads and find other network members. The case shows that sophisticated terrorist planning may occur through digital channels and encrypted platforms, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.

Sources
Associated Press
Reuters
WSJ
CNN