An 18-year-old Minnesota man is charged with plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America, and federal prosecutors say the FBI stopped him before he could act.
Story Highlights
- Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, of Richfield, Minnesota, is charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit a federal crime of terrorism.
- Prosecutors say he paid about $600 to an undercover FBI employee for an AK-47, four 30-round magazines and about 200 rounds of ammunition.
- The complaint says he picked October 24, the day of a Hmong Arts Celebration at the mall, and wanted to kill 30 to 60 non-Muslims.
- The FBI had made the rifle unable to fire before the sale, and he was arrested shortly after paying for it.
What He Is Charged With
The FBI arrested Mohamud on Tuesday, October 6, shortly after he paid for the weapon, and federal prosecutors announced the charge on Wednesday, October 7. He made his first court appearance that Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright, a federal judge who handles early steps in criminal cases. He faces one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition in order to commit a federal crime of terrorism. Prosecutors say he wanted the gun to carry out a mass shooting in support of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. No statement from a defense lawyer has been reported.
Daniel Rosen, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and the state’s top federal prosecutor, said Mohamud “took substantial steps to plot to murder innocent people in the name of ISIS.” At a news conference, Rosen also called him “a radicalized young man who needed to be watched.” FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau “arrested him and put a stop to his plans.”
What Prosecutors Say He Planned
According to the complaint, Mohamud chose the Mall of America in Bloomington and named October 24 as the date. Prosecutors say he pointed to a Hmong Arts Celebration at the mall that day because it would draw many Asian visitors and others he called “kuffar,” an Arabic word for non-Muslims. The complaint says he spoke of killing 30 to 60 people and said he believed the mall was Jewish-owned.
Prosecutors say he pledged allegiance to ISIS on video, sent the group’s propaganda and talked about recruiting others. According to the complaint, he first hoped to travel to Somalia to join a terrorist group, and when he could not pay for the trip, he said he would carry out an attack in Minnesota instead. Court papers also say he spoke of wanting to die as a martyr.
How the FBI Caught Him
Authorities say Mohamud had been under investigation for nearly two years. A confidential source, meaning a person who works with the FBI in secret and passes along what a suspect says, traded many messages with him, according to court papers. The weapons handoff was set up with an undercover FBI employee, an agent or staff member who poses as someone else to gather evidence.
The rifle he bought had been rendered inert, which means the FBI made sure it could not fire. That let agents test whether he would follow through without putting shoppers at risk. The FBI, its Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Bloomington Police Department and IRS Criminal Investigation worked the case together.
What Happens Next in Court
A criminal complaint is the first formal charge in a federal case. The Justice Department’s own release notes that “A complaint is merely an allegation” and that every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Next steps can include a detention hearing, where a judge decides whether he stays locked up before trial, and an indictment by a grand jury, a panel of citizens that decides whether the case goes forward.
Why This Matters to Minnesota Families
The Mall of America is one of the busiest shopping centers in the country, and families go there to shop, work and celebrate. Prosecutors say this plan aimed at people gathered for a cultural festival. Michele Tafoya, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, thanked law enforcement and said Minnesotans “feel under a level of threat that has increased lately.” Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, her opponent, said she was relieved the attack was prevented.
Americans want safe streets and strong counterterror work that catches threats early. This case shows how that work can play out at home. Families deserve the right to shop, worship and gather without fear, and the court process will decide what happens to the man accused of planning to take that away.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, justice.gov, cnn.com, wbaltv.com, cbsnews.com