Son of famed poet charged over alleged Pulse-inspired attacks targeting Detroit gay bars

A 19-year-old man has been charged in the US after authorities alleged he plotted attacks on multiple gay bars in Detroit.

According to The New York Post, the suspect, named in court filings as Milo Sedarat, is the son of Iranian-American poet and Queens College professor Roger Sedarat, who is not accused of any wrongdoing. Prosecutors allege Sedarat was influenced by Islamic State propaganda while planning the attacks, which were allegedly intended to coincide with Halloween.

Sedarat was arrested at his father’s home in Montclair, New Jersey, as part of a joint operation between the FBI and the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau.

19-year-old Tomas Kaan Guzel was also detained

Another 19-year-old man from Montclair, Tomas Kaan Guzel, was also detained. Court filings say extremist material was found on Guzel’s phone, including a statement about conducting a “Boston bombing-like attack”.

Authorities allege the two men were connected to a wider terror plot uncovered in Michigan last week, reportedly also inspired by the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, and 2015 ISIS attacks in Paris.

The Pulse attack, which began as a shooting before escalating into a hostage standoff, left 49 people dead and 53 wounded. Authorities described it at the time as the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

Guzel was arrested inside Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport, where prosecutors say he had been preparing to fly to Turkey before travelling on to Syria.

Both suspects are expected to appear in federal court in New Jersey

Residents in Montclair described the arrests as shocking, with law enforcement activity attracting significant attention. “Nearly two dozen” police vehicles are believed to have been outside the Sedarat home, with officers wearing camouflage and carrying assault rifles, according to neighbours.

Both suspects are expected to appear in federal court in New Jersey. The arrests follow the charging of two men in Michigan who are accused of supplying weapons for the alleged ISIS-inspired plot targeting LGBTQ+-friendly venues in Detroit.

Court filings identify 20-year-old Mohmed Ali as one of the key suspects in that case, who, along with a juvenile accomplice, is said to have planned a mass shooting at several gay bars on Halloween night.

Authorities are said to have seized rifles, pistols, shotguns, ammunition, tactical gear, and GoPro cameras during raids in the Detroit area.