FBI thwarts ‘radicalized young man’ after undercover sting operation where he bought an assault rifle to attack the Mall of America

FBI agents prevented a potential terror attack at the Mall of America by an 18-year-old man, according to authorities. The teenager had been under investigation for nearly two years after exchanging text messages with a confidential informant, reports say. FBI agents reportedly sold him an assault rifle and ammunition after detecting a threat, and arrested him in a public park in Richfield, Minnesota on Tuesday, according to a criminal complaint.

The teen, identified as Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, appeared in a federal court in St. Paul on Wednesday, where he was charged with attempting to kill between 30 to 60 people, as per his own admission in text messages with the informant, authorities said. Mohamud, an American-born U.S. citizen of Somali descent, had expressed admiration for recent terror attacks and an interest in joining ISIS, but ultimately decided to carry out the attack at the mall instead, according to the complaint.

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen praised the FBI's investigation, warning parents about the dangers of radicalization.