An 18-year-old Twin Cities man has been arrested and charged after federal investigators say he planned an ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack at the Mall of America in Minnesota.
Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday after investigators say he obtained an AK-47-style rifle, 4 30-round magazines and about 200 rounds of ammunition for use in a planned attack, according to the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Mohamud had been under investigation since December 2024 after exchanging hundreds of messages with a confidential human source through Telegram, Signal, Discord and TikTok, according to court afidavit.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson said Mohamud met with someone he believed was a loyal ISIS member in an attempt to purchase the rifle he planned to use in the attack.
Dotson said investigators recovered evidence showing Mohamud had expressed support for foreign terrorist organizations and had discussed carrying out violence in the United States. The FBI also alleges he had pledged allegiance to ISIS leaders and claimed to have joined the group.
The court affidavit describes messages in which Mohamud discussed attacking a crowded location in Minnesota. In July, he allegedly told the confidential source that he could not afford to travel to Somalia and had decided he would “do attack here.” He later specifically mentioned the Mall of America and Valleyfair as possible targets.
Mohamud had previously discussed saving money to travel to Somalia to join ISIS or al-Shabaab. Investigators allege that after those plans became difficult, he shifted his focus toward carrying out an attack in the United States.
The FBI said Mohamud planned to use the firearm in a high-traffic public area within weeks. Prosecutors allege he had discussed killing between 30 and 60 people.
“When the FBI receives credible evidence indicating someone is seeking means to carry out a violent attack, we act to disrupt the threat immediately,” Dotson said.
The investigation involved the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force, including members of the Bloomington Police Department, along with investigators, analysts, linguists and other personnel, according to Dotson.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal authorities stopped the alleged attack and that Mohamud had pledged support for ISIS and sent propaganda videos to a confidential source.
The federal complaint accuses Mohamud of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing or having reason to believe they would be used to commit a felony and federal crime of terrorism, including providing or attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The investigation remains ongoing. Mohamud has been charged, not convicted, and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.