US authorities have arrested an 18-year-old man accused of planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America in Minnesota. Sheikhdoon Mohamud was taken into custody on Tuesday after allegedly purchasing an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition from an FBI confidential source. According to court records, Mohamud planned to use the weapons to target a festival at the Mall of America. The arrest was the culmination of an FBI investigation that began in December 2024.
Mohamud had been under FBI investigation since December 2024, when a confidential source began exchanging messages with him about either traveling to Somalia to fight for al-Shabaab or carrying out a mass-casualty attack in the United States. Court documents reveal that Mohamud discussed his desire for martyrdom, including one conversation where he talked about getting a "gun here and just start killing a bunch of white people." By December 2025, Mohamud expressed interest in supporting ISIS.
Prosecutors detailed scores of communications between Mohamud and the confidential source, showing his shift from planning to travel overseas to carrying out an attack in the US. Mohamud allegedly told the source that he wanted to attack the Mall of America "because it's owned by Jewish people," adding that if he killed 30 people, "no one would go there anymore." The court documents also reveal that Mohamud drew inspiration from the New Orleans New Year's Eve attacker and Omar Mateen.
In August, Mohamud began arranging a meeting with the FBI source to purchase an AK-47 and ammunition. He sent photographs of himself to the source so he could be identified during the meeting. Mohamud agreed to meet the source on October 6 to buy the weapons and suggested that he would carry out an attack on October 24 targeting the Hmong Arts Celebration at the Mall of America.
During the meeting, an undercover agent handed Mohamud a large duffel bag containing an AK-47 rifle and four magazines, along with a container holding 200 rounds of ammunition. The agent told Mohamud that he was a member of ISIS and asked him about his attack plans. Mohamud again expressed his intention to carry out a shooting at a festival at the Mall, citing his belief that the facility was owned by Jews and his anger at the treatment of Muslims.
US Attorney for Minnesota Dan Rosen and FBI Special Agent Christopher Dodson detailed the communications between Mohamud and the confidential source, saying they showed he was "100% committed" to carrying out an attack. Rosen emphasized the importance of vigilance and diligence in detecting and disrupting threats, while Dodson described Mohamud's messages as "chilling" and showing a "callous disregard for the sanctity of human life."
Mohamud is believed to be an American citizen born in the United States, although his parents are from Somalia. The FBI had previously attempted to intervene after receiving information about Mohamud's online activity, but were rebuffed by his parents. Rosen urged parents to heed warnings from federal law enforcement about their children's radicalization, saying it was crucial to take such warnings seriously.
Key points
- Mohamud's arrest was the result of an outstanding law enforcement and intelligence operation.
- The FBI investigation into Mohamud began in December 2024.
- Mohamud planned to target the Hmong Arts Celebration at the Mall of America on October 24.
