FBI Arrests Minnesota Teen Accused of Planning Mall of America Attack

Federal authorities have arrested an 18-year-old Twin Cities resident accused of planning a mass casualty attack at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was taken into custody at gunpoint on Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota, during a meeting to purchase a Norinco AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition from an undercover source, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson confirmed the arrest, stating that investigators disrupted a plot they believe aimed to kill between 30 and 60 people. According to federal court documents, Mohamud had been in contact with a confidential human source since December 2024. During these exchanges, he allegedly expressed a desire to join the terrorist organization al-Shabaab in Somalia before deciding to commit an attack domestically.

Prosecutors allege that Mohamud specifically targeted the Mall of America due to its ownership, citing the location's status as a major gathering place. The complaint states that the suspect monitored the mall's calendar, expressing interest in carrying out the shooting during the Hmong Arts Celebration scheduled for October 24. Additionally, documents indicate Mohamud sought inspiration from past mass violence, including the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida and an antisemitic attack in Sydney, Australia.

"The messages this defendant allegedly sent to others were chilling," Dotson said during a Wednesday press conference. "Mohamud allegedly sought martyrdom in carrying out his plans to murder innocent civilians."

Federal officials noted that the FBI had previously attempted to engage with the suspect's parents in May 2025 regarding concerns of radicalization, but those efforts were rebuffed. Rosen urged parents to prioritize such warnings from law enforcement if they receive them in the future.

Mohamud faces federal charges including providing or conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and knowingly receiving a firearm with the intent to commit a federal crime of terrorism. He made his first appearance in court on Wednesday.

The Mall of America issued a statement expressing gratitude to the FBI for their "vigilance and extraordinary investigative work" in disrupting the threat. Security experts, including former mall counterterrorism head Simon Osamoh, noted that while the high-traffic site is a recurring target for extremist interest, the facility maintains close cooperation with law enforcement and utilizes layers of security such as K9 teams and undercover personnel.