Federal authorities arrested 18-year-old American-born citizen Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud in Richfield, Minnesota, after he allegedly paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition, disrupting an alleged ISIS-inspired mass shooting plot targeting an upcoming Hmong arts celebration at the Mall of America.
Federal Agents Arrest Teen in Richfield Park
The FBI arrested 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud on Tuesday in a public park in Richfield, located several miles northwest of the Mall of America according to a federal criminal complaint.
Agents intercepted Mohamud immediately after he allegedly handed over $600 to an undercover employee posing as a member of the Islamic State in exchange for an AK-47 assault rifle, four 30-round magazines, and about 200 rounds of ammunition. The undercover agent handed Mohamud a large duffel bag containing the rifle and magazines alongside a container holding 200 rounds of ammunition during their meetup. He also faces multiple charges including attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He made his initial appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright in federal court in St. Paul.
Investigators Monitor Mohamud for Nearly Two Years
Federal law enforcement monitored Mohamud for nearly two years beginning in December 2024, when he started communicating with a confidential informant.
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Suspect Expresses Desire to Kill at Mall
In September 2026, Mohamud specifically expressed a desire to kill “kuffar,” a term used to refer to a non-Muslim, according to the Justice Department.
“As alleged in the criminal complaint, Mohamud took substantial steps to plot to murder innocent people in the name of ISIS.”
U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota, via Yahoo
Messages recovered by investigators indicated Mohamud wanted to target the mall because its owned by jewish
individuals, adding that if he killed even 30 people no one would go there anymore. Authorities stated he aimed to kill between 30 and 60 people and expressed admiration for prior attacks including the Pulse Nightclub shooting and the 2025 New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans according to Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, as well as the Bondi Beach attack in Australia.
Federal Officials Detail Multi-Month Operation
At a press conference following the arrest, federal prosecutors and law enforcement leaders credited the multi-month intelligence operation with preventing a major tragedy.
“This individual allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans. We will continue to use every resource we have to detect and prevent acts of terrorism and wipe out their networks all over the country.”
FBI Director Kash Patel, via Yahoo
Paul.
Ayan, the mother of Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, stood with family members following her son’s initial court appearance at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building, with portraits of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance displayed in the background.
