FBI agents in Minneapolis thwarted a potential terror attack by an 18-year-old at the Mall of America after nearly two years of monitoring. The teenager, identified as Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, was arrested on Tuesday in a public park in Richfield. Authorities said Mohamud had been on the FBI's radar since December 2024, when he began exchanging messages with a confidential informant.
According to a criminal complaint, Mohamud initially expressed interest in traveling to Somalia to fight for al-Shabab militants. However, his plans shifted to attacking the Mall of America, with the goal of killing 30 to 60 people. The complaint states that Mohamud repeatedly affirmed his intention to attack and kill non-Muslims at the mall on October 24, a date when the Hmong community was scheduled to hold an arts celebration.
The FBI supplied Mohamud with an AK-47 rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition, posing as a member of the Islamic State group. Mohamud paid $600 for the gun and ammunition to an undercover FBI employee. He was arrested immediately after the transaction. US Attorney Daniel Rosen described Mohamud as a "radicalized young man" who needed to be watched.
Mohamud appeared in federal court in St. Paul on Wednesday, wearing a yellow jail uniform. He told the judge that he did not have a job, own a house or car, or have any money in the bank. His federal public defender, Siri Carlson McDowell, and relatives declined to comment after the hearing. Rosen confirmed that Mohamud is an American-born US citizen of Somali descent.
The FBI first took notice of Mohamud in December 2024, when he began exchanging messages with the confidential informant. By May 2025, agents were concerned enough to visit his home, but his mother said he was not there, and his father declined to speak with them. Rosen emphasized the importance of heeding warnings from federal law enforcement about potential radicalization.
Minnesota is home to tens of thousands of people of Somali descent, many of whom arrived as refugees in the 1990s. Over the years, several individuals have been charged with attempting to join militant groups. Rosen's comments highlighted the need for vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement and the community to prevent radicalization.
The FBI's actions prevented a potential tragedy at the Mall of America, a popular tourist destination. The investigation and arrest demonstrate the agency's ability to detect and disrupt threats before they are carried out. Mohamud's case will likely continue to unfold in the coming weeks and months.
Key points
- The FBI supplied Mohamud with an AK-47 rifle and ammunition, posing as a member of the Islamic State group.
- Mohamud planned to attack the Mall of America on October 24, a date when the Hmong community was scheduled to hold an arts celebration.
- The FBI had been monitoring Mohamud since December 2024, when he began exchanging messages with a confidential informant.
