FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired Mall of America Terror Plot! Teen Arrested!

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has successfully thwarted a planned ISIS-inspired terror attack targeting the bustling Mall of America, leading to the arrest of an 18-year-old Minnesota resident. Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was taken into custody after a months-long investigation, preventing what officials described as a potentially devastating act of violence.

Mohamud, an American-born U.S. citizen, was arrested on Tuesday in a public park in Richfield, just miles northwest of the Mall of America. His arrest came after he paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee, who was posing as a member of ISIS, for an AK-47 assault rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition. This transaction, according to the criminal complaint, was the culmination of an extensive surveillance operation.

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen praised the FBI’s meticulous investigation, stating, "This was a radicalized young man who needed to be watched." Rosen emphasized that agents

were able to detect a threat, and disrupt it, before the defendant carried out his intention to kill, in his words, maybe 30 to 60 people.

The potential target date for the attack was October 24, coinciding with a scheduled Hmong arts celebration at the mall, where Mohamud intended to target non-Muslims.

Text messages exchanged with a confidential informant revealed Mohamud's repeated affirmations of his intent to carry out the attack. He reportedly expressed admiration for recent terror incidents and initially harbored an interest in traveling to Somalia to join ISIS. However, claiming he couldn't afford the travel, he decided to carry out an attack domestically, choosing the Mall of America as his target.

The teenager first drew the FBI's attention in December 2024, the same month the informant began communicating with him. By May 2025, concerns escalated to the point where agents visited his home. His mother informed them he wasn't home, and his father, when contacted, declined to speak with law enforcement, instead opting to provide their contact information to his lawyer.

U.S. Attorney Rosen issued a strong warning to parents, urging them to heed any indications of radicalization, especially if contacted by federal law enforcement.

Minnesota is home to a significant population of Somali descent, with refugees having arrived since the 1990s.

Over the years, the state has seen several individuals charged with attempting to join ISIS or other terror organizations. This latest incident serves as a stark reminder of ongoing vigilance required to counter such threats.

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