FBI Stops Mall of America Terror Plot: 18-Year-Old Arrested After Buying AK-47

The FBI stopped an alleged terrorist attack on the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, after a nearly two-year investigation. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, was arrested on October 7 after paying $600 to an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS member for an AK-47 rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said Mohamud intended to kill 30 to 60 people at the mall on October 24, when a Hmong arts celebration was scheduled.

How the FBI identified the threat

The FBI began investigating Mohamud in December 2024 after he started exchanging messages with a confidential informant. In those messages, Mohamud expressed interest in joining terror groups overseas, particularly al-Shabaab and ISIS. When overseas travel proved unaffordable, he shifted his focus to attacking the Mall of America. Agents attempted to interview him at his home in May 2025, but his father declined to speak with them and said he would contact an attorney.

What Mohamud allegedly planned

In text messages with the informant, Mohamud stated he wanted to attack the mall because he believed it was owned by Jewish people. He said he wanted to kill non-Muslims, using the term “kuffar” in his messages. He set October 24 as his target date, coinciding with the Hmong Arts Celebration. In one message, he wrote: “I wanna save up to go to another country or get a gun here and just start killing a bunch of white ppl.”

The arrest and charges

Mohamud was arrested on October 7 in a public park in Richfield, Minnesota, after he completed the firearms purchase from the undercover agent. He was charged with one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing they would be used in a federal crime of terrorism. At his initial federal court appearance on October 8, Mohamud told the judge he had no job, house, car, or money in the bank. He was represented by a federal public defender.

Context of Minnesota violence

This arrest comes amid rising gang violence in Minnesota. The state has seen multiple shootings involving Somali teens in recent weeks, including a gang-related shooting in Bloomington where more than 100 rounds were fired. Law enforcement officials are calling for a regional taskforce to address the escalating violence. Minnesota’s large Somali refugee population, which began arriving in the 1990s, has been the subject of federal scrutiny in previous years for ISIS recruitment attempts.

Final Thoughts

The FBI’s two-year investigation prevented a planned mass casualty attack, but the case highlights ongoing security concerns at major retail venues and the challenge of identifying radicalized individuals before they act. Mohamud’s case underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring online extremist communications.

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