FBI says it thwarted terrorist attack in Minnesota by an 18-year-old it supplied with an AK-47
Authorities say they arrested an 18-year-old who was planning a shooting attack at the Mall of America FBI officials stopped a potential terrorist attack on the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, authorities announced Wednesday. An 18-year-old was arrested on one count of obtaining a firearm to carry out an act of terrorism. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud had been investigated over the last…
On Wednesday, the FBI announced the arrest of an 18-year-old from Minnesota who had been plotting a shooting attack at the Mall of America. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was taken into custody in a public park after purchasing an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI informant posing as a member of the Islamic State.
According to a criminal complaint, Mohamud had been under FBI investigation for nearly two years. The teen expressed his intention to join terrorist organizations overseas in messages with a confidential informant, dating back to December 2024. Mohamud can be seen on mall security cameras strolling around the Mall of America "nonchalantly" before robbing a nearby store at gunpoint.
During his conversation with the informant, Mohamud stated, "I wanna get martyred inshallah," implying his desire to martyr himself. FBI officials stated that the teen needed to be closely monitored as he was believed to have intended to kill between 30 to 60 people. The potential attack at the mall is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Minnesota, notably a recent Somali teen gang-related shooting where over 100 rounds of ammunition were fired.
With growing concerns about terrorism and violence in the state, some law enforcement officials are advocating for the creation of a regional taskforce to tackle the issue more effectively.
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