FBI arrests 18-year-old over alleged ISIS plot on Mall of America
The FBI says it foiled an alleged ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack on the Mall of America after a teenager paid $600 to an undercover agent for an inoperable AK-47.
The FBI says it thwarted an alleged ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack on the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, arresting Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, of Richfield on Tuesday in a public park after paying $600 to an undercover FBI employee posing as an ISIS member for a Norinco AK-47 and about 200 rounds of ammunition; the rifle was inoperable (Associated Press; Newsmax).
The Justice Department charged him on Wednesday with one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit a federal crime of terrorism, and he made his initial appearance that day in federal court in St. Paul (Newsmax; AP).
Under scrutiny since December 2024, he exchanged hundreds of messages with a confidential source — first about fighting in Somalia for a terrorist group, then an attack at home (AP; Newsmax). He affirmed his intent to kill non-Muslims at the mall on 24 October, the date of a Hmong Arts Celebration, replying “yes i am 100% sure” when asked if he was serious (AP). He allegedly wrote the mall was “owned by jewish” [sic] and that he wanted to “harm the jew”, invoking the Bondi Beach and New Orleans attacks (New York Post; Newsmax).
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said agents acted “before the defendant carried out his intention to kill, in his words, maybe 30 to 60 people” (AP). FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI “arrested him and put a stop to his plans” (Newsmax), while Attorney General Todd Blanche shared an ISIS propaganda video screenshot (Washington Examiner).
Sources: Associated Press · Newsmax · New York Post · Washington Examiner
Read next
More on this topic: all World stories
