The FBI arrested an 18-year-old Minnesota man Tuesday after authorities say he planned to carry out a mass-casualty attack at the Mall of America later this month.
Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an American citizen of Somali descent, is accused of purchasing an AK-47-style rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition as part of an alleged terrorism plot.
Federal prosecutors say Mohamud intended to target the Mall of America in Bloomington on Oct. 24, when a Hmong Arts Celebration was scheduled to take place.
Agents arrested him at gunpoint after he allegedly purchased the rifle from a source working with the FBI.
Minnesota U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen announced the arrest Wednesday and said investigators disrupted the alleged plot before anyone was harmed.
“The complaint charges Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud with acquiring an AK-47 assault rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition in order to commit a federal crime of terrorism, including attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization,” Rosen said.
Authorities allege Mohamud hoped to kill dozens of people.
Rosen said the defendant had discussed potentially killing “maybe 30 to 60 people.”
“Federal law enforcement is standing up to their calling to protect us,” Rosen said. “Here, because of their vigilance and diligence, they were able to detect a threat and disrupt it before the defendant carried out his intention to kill.”
The investigation reportedly stretched back nearly two years.
According to the criminal complaint, a confidential human source exchanged hundreds of messages with Mohamud through social media and encrypted messaging applications between December 2024 and his arrest Tuesday.
Investigators say Mohamud initially expressed a desire to travel to Somalia and join al-Shabaab.
Authorities allege he wanted either to fight for the terrorist organization overseas or carry out a mass-casualty attack in Minnesota.
By July, however, Mohamud allegedly told the source that he did not have enough money to travel to Somalia.
Federal investigators say he then shifted his focus toward carrying out an attack inside the U.S.
According to the complaint, Mohamud said he wanted to conduct the attack “for the sake of Allah only.”
Prosecutors also allege he had expressed support for ISIS.
In September, Mohamud allegedly posted a video online pledging allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group.
Authorities say he eventually settled on the Mall of America as his intended target.
The complaint alleges Mohamud told the confidential source he wanted to attack the massive shopping complex “because it’s owned by Jewish.”
Investigators also claim he referenced a deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, as a source of inspiration.
The alleged plan culminated this week when Mohamud arranged to obtain a firearm.
Authorities say he purchased an AK-47-style rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition from a source working with federal law enforcement.
Agents moved in and arrested him before the alleged attack could move forward.
Mohamud is now accused of acquiring the weapon in furtherance of a federal terrorism offense and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to the Western Journal.
The allegations remain accusations, and Mohamud has not been convicted.
The arrest comes less than three weeks before the date prosecutors say he had selected for the alleged attack.
Federal officials are crediting the undercover investigation with stopping the plan before it reached the Mall of America.
