An 18-year-old man was arrested after allegedly purchasing weapons from an undercover FBI agent to carry out a mass shooting at the Mall of America.
Key facts
- •Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, was charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit an act of terrorism.
- •The suspect allegedly purchased an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent for $600.
- •Mohamud reportedly targeted an October 24 'Hmong Arts Celebration' at the Mall of America for his planned attack.
- •Court filings state the suspect expressed interest in joining both al-Shabaab and ISIS.
- •The suspect made his initial court appearance before US Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright on Wednesday.
The FBI has arrested 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud of Minnesota for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at the Mall of America. According to court filings, Mohamud was taken into custody on Tuesday after purchasing an AK-47, ammunition, and magazines from an undercover FBI agent. He faces one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit an act of terrorism.
By the numbers
Details of the Alleged Plot
Court documents allege that Mohamud told an FBI informant he intended to kill between 30 and 60 people during an event at the mall. He specifically targeted October 24, citing a scheduled 'Hmong Arts Celebration' as the timing for his planned attack. Mohamud allegedly stated his motivation was to target non-Muslims, claiming the mall's owners were Jewish. Before his arrest, Mohamud allegedly communicated on various messaging platforms about his desire to travel overseas to fight for al-Shabaab. He stated that if he could not travel, he would conduct a mass shooting instead, later expressing an intent to join ISIS. He also allegedly voiced support for an individual who killed 14 people in a January 2025 truck-ramming attack in New Orleans.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The arrest occurred on Tuesday following a transaction in which Mohamud paid $600 for an AK-47, four 30-round-capacity magazines, and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. Following his arrest, Mohamud made his initial court appearance on Wednesday before US Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. His legal counsel has not yet provided a comment regarding the charges.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Jerusalem Post, Straits Times World.
