Suspect Arrested for Alleged Plot to Attack Minnesota Mall on Behalf of ISIS

A Minnesota man was taken into custody at gunpoint Tuesday after allegedly arranging a purchase of an assault rifle from an FBI informant, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in St. Paul. The defendant, identified as Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, reportedly told the source he intended to carry out a mass-casualty attack at the Mall of America during the Hmong Arts Celebration scheduled for Oct. 24.

Federal documents allege that between December 2024 and the arrest, Mohamud exchanged hundreds of messages with the confidential human source across various encrypted platforms and social media channels. During these communications, he expressed a desire to travel to Somalia to join the al-Shabaab militant group. When he claimed in July that he lacked the funds to make the trip, he stated he would instead attack targets within the United States “for the sake of Allah only,” according to the complaint.

Mohamud reportedly discussed targeting the Mall of America in Bloomington or Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee around the Christmas holiday, mentioning plans to first acquire two pistols online. The complaint indicates he cited antisemitic motives for targeting the mall, stating it was “owned by Jewish,” and cited the deadly 2023 antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, as inspiration. He also referenced the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando as a model for his potential approach, writing, “I just walk in and shoot.”

Last month, Mohamud posted a video on Discord in which he allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS). Authorities also noted that the FBI contacted Mohamud’s parents in May 2025; his father reportedly declined to share information with agents and directed them to legal counsel.

The arrest occurred during an arranged meeting for Mohamud to buy a Norinco AK-47-style rifle, model Mac-90 Sporter, for $600. An FBI affidavit states that upon his arrest, Mohamud had left behind an undercover employee’s vehicle, where the rifle, four magazines, and approximately 200 rounds of 7.62×39-caliber ammunition were located.

Prosecutors allege that Mohamud knowingly received the firearm and ammunition with the intent to use them in the commission of a felony and a federal crime of terrorism, including conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and FBI Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson are scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday at noon to discuss the “significant counterterrorism law enforcement action.” Officials have not confirmed whether the upcoming briefing specifically concerns Mohamud’s case.