Seattle-area man arrested in Halloween terrorism plot investigation – NBC News

Report on Counter-Terrorism Operations in Relation to Global Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details the successful foiling of a planned terrorist attack in Michigan, leading to eight arrests across the United States. The operation highlights the critical role of national and international security efforts in upholding the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), by preventing violence and strengthening the rule of law.

Incident Overview and Arrests

A multi-state investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has resulted in the disruption of a terror plot allegedly planned by supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The plot targeted locations in the Detroit area for an attack during Halloween weekend.

Key Individuals Charged

1. Saed Ali Mirreh, 19 (Kent, Washington)
2. Tomas-Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, 19 (New Jersey)
3. Mohmed Ali, 20 (Detroit Area)
4. Majed Mahmoud, 20 (Detroit Area)
5. Ayob Nasser, 19 (Detroit Area)
6. Milo Sedarat (New Jersey)
7. Two unnamed juveniles (Detroit Area)

Charges and Allegations

• The primary charges include conspiracy to provide material support and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS).
• Alleged activities included the purchase of weapons, reconnaissance of potential targets such as gay bars and an amusement park, and coordination to travel to Turkey to join ISIS as foreign fighters.
• The conspiracy involved a transnational network with co-conspirators identified in the United Kingdom and Sweden.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The successful counter-terrorism operation directly contributes to the advancement of several key Sustainable Development Goals by mitigating threats to peace, security, and social inclusion.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Promoting Peaceful Societies: The prevention of the attack is a direct fulfillment of Target 16.1, which aims to “significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”
• Strengthening Institutions: The coordinated efforts of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies demonstrate the effectiveness of institutions in maintaining public safety and order.
• Upholding the Rule of Law: The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings according to established law support Target 16.3, which focuses on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Ensuring Public Safety: The plot posed a direct threat to the safety and security of urban populations. By neutralizing this threat, authorities have reinforced the objective of Target 11.7 to “provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.”
• Building Resilient Communities: Protecting citizens from violence is a prerequisite for creating resilient and sustainable communities where social and economic life can flourish without fear.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Protecting Vulnerable Groups: The alleged targeting of specific community spaces, such as gay bars, is an attack on social inclusion. Countering such threats is essential to achieving Target 10.2, which calls for the empowerment and promotion of the “social, economic and political inclusion of all.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Global Cooperation: The investigation revealed a network stretching from the U.S. to the U.K. and Sweden, with prior links to an individual in Canada. The cross-border nature of the threat underscores the importance of international cooperation (Target 17.16) to address global challenges like terrorism, which undermine progress on all other SDGs.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article is fundamentally about threats to peace and security through terrorism, and the response of justice institutions to counter these threats. The entire narrative revolves around a foiled terror plot, the investigation and arrests by the FBI, and the subsequent legal charges filed in a U.S. District Court. This directly engages with the core mission of SDG 16 to promote peaceful societies and build effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• This goal is relevant because the alleged plot directly threatened the safety and security of a community. The article states that the suspects were “scouting gay bars and an amusement park for a possible terrorist attack” in the Detroit area. This action undermines Target 11.7, which aims to provide universal access to safe and inclusive public spaces. The plot aimed to make public community spaces unsafe, which is the antithesis of a sustainable and safe city.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

• The article details a “foiled Michigan terror plot” where suspects were “charged with buying weapons and ammunition” to carry out an attack. The actions of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in arresting the eight individuals directly prevented a violent act, thereby contributing to the reduction of violence as stipulated in this target.

Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

• The article showcases the operational capacity of a key national institution, the FBI, in conducting a counterterrorism investigation. It also highlights the element of international cooperation, noting that the “web of alleged conspirators stretched beyond the continent, with at least six co-conspirators located primarily in the U.K. and Sweden” and a previous case involved an individual arrested in Canada. This demonstrates the cross-border nature of the threat and the necessity of international cooperation to combat it.

Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…

• The plot specifically targeted public spaces where people gather, including “gay bars and an amusement park.” By planning an attack on these locations, the conspirators aimed to undermine public safety and create fear, directly opposing the goal of ensuring safe and inclusive access to such spaces for all members of the community. The foiling of the plot is a direct action that preserves the safety of these public areas.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Number of foiled terrorist plots and terrorism-related arrests.

• The article provides a quantifiable measure of law enforcement success in preventing violence. It states that the arrest of Saed Ali Mirreh was “the eighth such arrest in connection with a terrorist attack allegedly planned for Halloween weekend.” This number serves as a direct indicator of progress in reducing violence by neutralizing active threats before they can be carried out.

Implied Indicator for Target 16.a: Number of international cooperative actions in counter-terrorism investigations.

• The article implies this indicator by describing the international scope of the conspiracy. It mentions “co-conspirators located primarily in the U.K. and Sweden” and a related arrest in Canada. The investigation, which spanned multiple countries and required communication and coordination between international law enforcement agencies, serves as a case study and a measurable instance of international cooperation in combating terrorism.

Implied Indicator for Target 11.7: Number of neutralized threats against public community spaces.

• The successful foiling of the plot against an amusement park and gay bars is a concrete example that can be counted as a neutralized threat. This serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of security measures in protecting public spaces and ensuring they remain safe and accessible to the public, as intended by this target.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcnews.com