An 18-year-old Minnesota man was arrested this week after federal agents say they intercepted his alleged plan to carry out a mass-casualty attack at the Mall of America using an assault rifle.
According to the New York Post, the FBI had been monitoring the suspect, identified as Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, for nearly two years as he exchanged messages with a confidential informant while allegedly plotting violence in the name of radical Islamist ideology. US Attorney Daniel Rosen outlined the case in a federal complaint, which detailed how agents ultimately supplied the weapon as part of a controlled sting operation.
Mohamud was taken into custody Tuesday at a public park after he allegedly handed $600 to an undercover FBI operative he believed was a member of ISIS in exchange for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition, according to the criminal complaint. The rifle and ammunition were provided by the FBI as part of the operation, ensuring the suspect never obtained a functional weapon outside government control.
In text messages with a confidential FBI source, Mohamud repeatedly affirmed his intent to carry out an attack to kill non-Muslims, the complaint said. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether Mohamud has retained legal counsel or whether any broader network is suspected in connection with the alleged plot.
The case underscores both the persistent threat of homegrown extremism and the critical role of proactive law enforcement in preventing mass attacks before they unfold. While civil libertarians often criticize undercover stings, conservatives are likely to view this operation as a necessary use of federal power to protect innocent Americans in a major commercial hub.
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