Prosecutors Charge Man Accused of Plotting Attack on Mall of America

Federal authorities have arrested a man accused of plotting a terrorist attack at Mall of America and pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State group.

According to an affidavit unsealed on Wednesday, FBI agents arrested 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud on Tuesday directly after he purchased an AK-47, 200 rounds of ammunition and four 30-round magazines from an informant with the stated intent of carrying out a mass shooting.

The criminal complaint alleges Mohamud had messaged an informant for nearly two years, discussing his hatred of non-Muslims and his desire to align with an Islamic terror group. He floated the idea of joining al Qaeda and al Shabaab before deciding to lend his support to the Islamic State.

Mohamud repeatedly expressed his admiration for Islamic terrorist attacks, including the New Year’s Eve 2024 attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans; the 2017 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida; and the 2025 mass shooting during a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

{snip}

Messages indicated he planned to target the Hmong Arts Celebration at Mall of America on Oct. 24 because “it will be a lot of people.” Prosecutors say he aimed to kill 30 to 60 people.

The informant arranged for Mohamud to purchase a rifle and ammunition from an undercover FBI agent. During that transaction, Mohamud explained that he was “an active member of ISIS” and that “part of his motivation was that the Mall of America was owned by Jews,” the complaint states.

{snip}