FBI says it thwarted Mall of America attack plot; 18-year-old arrested
In short
The FBI said Wednesday it thwarted an attack on the Mall of America and arrested 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, who authorities said paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee posing as an ISIS member for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition. The criminal complaint says he had been under investigation for nearly two years and repeatedly affirmed to a confidential FBI source his intent to kill non-Muslims, according to the Associated Press and the New York Post. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced the arrest at a news conference in Minneapolis; the teen was taken into custody Tuesday in a public park in Richfield, Minnesota, AP reported.
Why it matters
The documents describe a foiled mass-casualty plot against a major U.S. shopping mall, announced jointly by federal and local officials, and an investigation that authorities said ran for nearly two years with a confidential informant. The coverage is national and comes entirely from the authorities' own account at a news conference and the filed complaint. The documents do not include any response from the Mall of America, local residents or the defendant's representatives.
Key facts
- The FBI announced Wednesday that it thwarted an attack on the Mall of America and arrested an 18-year-old. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The suspect was identified as Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18; AP reported he was arrested Tuesday in a public park in Richfield, Minnesota, several miles northwest of the mall. [ 1 , 4 ]
- According to the criminal complaint, he paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee posing as a member of ISIS for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The complaint says that in text messages with a confidential FBI source he repeatedly affirmed his intent to carry out an attack to kill non-Muslims. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Authorities said he had been under investigation for nearly two years, with Fox News reporting the investigation began around December 2024. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Fox News, citing an affidavit, reported he referenced October 24 and a “Hmong Arts Celebration” at the mall as a date and target with “a lot of people.” [ 2 ]
- He 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 the federal crime of terrorism, Fox News reported. [ 2 ]
- U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced the case; Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges also spoke at the Minneapolis news conference, AP reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The FBI announced an investigation that thwarted a planned attack on the Mall of America and the arrest of an 18-year-old. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The suspect is Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee posing as an ISIS member for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition, according to the criminal complaint. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He had been under investigation for nearly two years and had traded messages with a confidential FBI informant or source. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The complaint says he repeatedly affirmed his intent to carry out an attack to kill non-Muslims. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the teen has an attorney who might speak on his behalf. AP and the New York Post say it was not immediately known; no outlet reports a legal representative.
- The reported plan to act on October 24, tied to a “Hmong Arts Celebration” at the mall. Only Fox News, citing an affidavit, reports the date and the event.
- An alleged pledge of allegiance to ISIS by Mohamud. Fox News describes the pledge as alleged; the other documents describe an undercover employee posing as an ISIS member and do not state a pledge.
- The alleged intended number of victims. Only AP quotes U.S. Attorney Rosen saying the complaint alleges an intention to kill “maybe 30 to 60 people.”
- He faces a charge of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition with reason to believe they would be used to commit a felony and a federal crime of terrorism, Fox News reported. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- AP reports that the FBI thwarted an attack on the Mall of America and that an 18-year-old was arrested Tuesday after paying $600 for an AK-47 and 200 rounds from an undercover FBI employee. [ 1 ]
- Fox News publishes affidavit details, reporting the investigation began around December 2024 and that Mohamud allegedly referenced October 24 and a “Hmong Arts Celebration” at the mall. [ 2 ]
- ABC News and the New York Post report the arrest and the foiled mass-casualty plot, with the U.S. attorney for Minnesota named as Dan Rosen. [ 3 , 4 ]