Federal authorities arrested an 18-year-old Minnesota man accused of planning a mass shooting at the Mall of America in support of ISIS. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was taken into custody Tuesday in Richfield during an arranged transaction where he purchased an AK-47-style rifle, four magazines, and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI employee, according to federal court filings and statements from law enforcement.
According to court documents, Mohamud targeted October 24 for the planned attack, specifically during the Hmong Arts Celebration at the Mall of America in Bloomington. When questioned by an FBI confidential source about the date, Mohamud reportedly stated the event would have "a lot of people." In July, the suspect allegedly told an informant he was inspired by the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, saying "I just walk in and shoot." A video submitted as evidence shows Mohamud pledging allegiance to ISIS via Discord, according to court records.
The FBI investigation of Mohamud began in December 2024, when a confidential human source began exchanging messages with him through social media and encrypted messaging applications. Over the 10-month period, Mohamud allegedly expressed desires to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab and conduct a mass casualty attack. In May 2025, the FBI contacted Mohamud's parents to warn them of his radicalization, but Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen stated the parents "were not cooperative" and "rebuffed" the agency's attempts. Rosen urged parents nationwide to heed such warnings from federal law enforcement.
In September, Mohamud told the confidential source he could not afford to travel to Somalia and would instead carry out an attack in the United States "for the sake of Allah only." The suspect considered targeting either the Mall of America or Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee. According to court records, Mohamud expressed antisemitic motivations, stating he wanted to attack the mall "because it's owned by Jewish" and citing inspiration from a 2025 deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
Mohamud is a U.S. citizen born in Minnesota to parents who are naturalized U.S. citizens from Somalia. His mother became a naturalized citizen in 2010 and his father in 2017, according to federal law enforcement sources. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright on Wednesday for an eight-minute initial hearing, and the judge ordered him temporarily detained. A preliminary and detention hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 19.
Mohamud is charged with knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe they would be used to commit a felony and federal crime of terrorism. According to Minnesota U.S. Attorney Rosen, authorities believe Mohamud intended to kill between 30 and 60 people. FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson characterized the messages and conduct as "chilling," describing them as documenting "the idolization of ideologically motivated violence, a callous disregard to the sanctity of human life, a blind hatred of people of other faiths and a cold commitment to carrying out his vision of violence in our community."
FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a statement to Fox News that the suspect "allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans." President Trump also praised the FBI's work on the case. The case marks another federal terrorism prevention operation, adding to what Director Patel characterized as an ongoing effort to disrupt terrorist threats before attacks occur.
