Mall of America plot is at the center of a federal complaint charging Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, of Richfield, Minnesota, with knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition in order to commit a federal crime of terrorism, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.
Officials said FBI agents arrested Mohamud on Oct. 6, and he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright on Oct. 7.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the defendant allegedly obtained a weapon he intended to use in a mass-casualty attack in support of ISIS, and credited FBI Minneapolis for work that he said likely saved lives. Patel said the bureau has increased the pace of terrorism disruptions and will continue to use every available tool to detect and prevent attacks.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said Mohamud allegedly sought to carry out a mass-casualty shooting at the Mall of America and expressed interest in emulating prior ISIS-inspired attacks in the United States, including the Pulse Nightclub shooting and a New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. He said the National Security Division will continue to work with the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force to pursue ISIS-inspired terrorism cases in the country.
U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota said the complaint alleges Mohamud took substantial steps to plan to murder civilians in the name of ISIS, and he commended investigators and prosecutors for their work.
Mall of America plot described in complaint
According to the complaint, beginning around December 2024, Mohamud exchanged hundreds of messages on social media and messaging platforms with a confidential source. He allegedly voiced a desire to travel to Somalia to join a designated foreign terrorist organization and also discussed carrying out a mass-casualty attack in Minnesota using a firearm and ammunition. The complaint states he repeatedly said that if he could not travel overseas due to lack of funds, he would instead conduct an attack in Minnesota in support of ISIS.
Prosecutors say that in July 2026, Mohamud discussed launching a mass shooting at the Mall of America, asserting the location was owned by Jews, and wrote that he wanted to kill 30 to 60 people to deter others from going there.
In August and September 2026, the messages allegedly continued, detailing plans to purchase a firearm and recruit others to participate. During this period, Mohamud sent a selfie-style video in which he pledged allegiance to ISIS, according to the filing.
Investigators said Mohamud referenced attacks such as the Pulse Nightclub mass shooting in Orlando, a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia, and a New Year’s Day vehicle-ramming in New Orleans as models he wanted to imitate.
The complaint states that in September 2026, he expressed a desire to kill “kuffar,” meaning non-Muslims, and identified Oct. 24 as the intended date of the attack. When the confidential source asked about events that day, Mohamud allegedly responded that many Asians and other “kuffar” would be celebrating at the Mall of America and shared a link to a Hmong Arts Celebration scheduled there.
Prosecutors say he continued sending ISIS propaganda videos to the source in September.
On Oct. 6, according to investigators, an undercover FBI employee arranged to sell Mohamud an AK-47-style rifle, four 30-round magazines, and about 200 rounds of ammunition. The FBI had rendered the rifle inert before the sale. Agents arrested him shortly after he paid approximately $600 in cash and took possession of the items. During the transaction, Mohamud allegedly reaffirmed his plan to use the weapon and ammunition to shoot people at the Mall of America.
Authorities said the investigation involved the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Bloomington Police Department, with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar for the District of Minnesota.
A complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Related enforcement actions by the Justice Department include efforts to disrupt terror funding, such as those described in Justice Department targets Hamas terror finance network.