FBI Thwarts Alleged Terror Plot Targeting Mall of America
Federal authorities say they have thwarted an alleged ISIS-inspired terror attack targeting the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, after arresting an 18-year-old man accused of planning a mass-casualty attack.
According to federal prosecutors, Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was arrested Tuesday after allegedly purchasing an AK-47-style rifle and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI employee posing as an ISIS member. Investigators say Mohamud paid $600 for the weapons during the undercover operation.
Authorities allege Mohamud had been under investigation since December 2024 and communicated with a confidential FBI source about his plans. Prosecutors say he discussed attacking the Mall of America and repeatedly expressed an intention to kill non-Muslims.
According to the criminal complaint, Mohamud allegedly told the informant that he wanted to kill between 30 and 60 people. Investigators also say he identified October 24 as a potential attack date, coinciding with a scheduled Hmong arts celebration at the mall.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said investigators intervened after determining the suspect’s plans had become increasingly specific and serious.
“This was a radicalized young man who needed to be watched,” Rosen said, praising investigators for disrupting the alleged plot before it could be carried out.
Mohamud now faces a federal charge related to receiving a firearm and ammunition knowing they would be used in a felony or federal crime of terrorism.
The case remains ongoing, and the allegations against Mohamud have not been proven in court.
