Federal prosecutors in Minnesota charge man with terrorism after they say he planned to target the Mall of America

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged an 18-year-old man, Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, with a terrorism-related offense after he allegedly planned an attack on the Mall of America. Mohamud was formally charged on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition with the intent to use them in a felony or federal crime of terrorism. His arrest on Tuesday followed a nearly two-year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which began in December 2024.

Authorities allege that Mohamud, a U.S. citizen of Somali descent, had pledged allegiance to ISIS and communicated his desire to carry out a mass casualty attack at the Mall of America. He reportedly discussed targeting a "Hmong Arts Celebration" at the mall on October 24, believing it would draw a large crowd, and also expressed antisemitic motives for the attack. Mohamud was taken into custody after he purchased an AK-47 style rifle, magazines, and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee.

The federal complaint details Mohamud's alleged admiration for other terrorist attacks and his initial aspiration to travel to Somalia to join a terror organization before shifting his focus to an attack within Minnesota. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen praised the FBI for thwarting the plot, stating that their diligence prevented Mohamud from carrying out his stated intention to kill a significant number of people.