FBI Thwarts Terror Plot Against Mall of America, Arrests Suspect

WHO:

CBS News - Mohamud's father allegedly directed FBI agents to his attorney when they contacted him regarding his son.

CNN - Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, was arrested and charged with terrorism.

CBS News - U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson are involved in the case.

WHAT:

CBS News - Mohamud allegedly expressed a desire to attack the Mall of America "because it's owned by Jewish."

CBS News - Mohamud stated he would attack in the U.S. instead of traveling to Somalia, saying he was doing it "for the sake of Allah only."

CBS News - Mohamud wrote that he had been watching video of the 2016 attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and thought he could do the same, stating, "I just walk in and shoot."

CNN - Mohamud planned a mass casualty attack at the Mall of America using an AK-47 rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

ABC News - Mohamud was arrested for allegedly planning a mass casualty attack.

Fox News - Mohamud allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and discussed a mass shooting at the Mall of America.

CBS News - Mohamud was arrested at gunpoint during a meeting to buy an AK-47-style rifle for $600.

CBS News - Mohamud had approximately 200 live rounds of ammunition at the time of his arrest.

WHERE:

CNN - The planned attack was aimed at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

CBS News - Mohamud was arrested in Richfield, Minnesota.

WHEN:

CBS News - Mohamud is accused of planning to carry out the attack during the Hmong Arts Celebration on Oct. 24.

CBS News - Mohamud is scheduled to appear in court on October 10, 2026.

CBS News - Mohamud is accused of planning to carry out the attack during the Hmong Arts Celebration on Oct. 24.

CBS News - Mohamud expressed a desire to carry out an attack at the Mall of America "around Christmas."

CBS News - Mohamud planned to carry out the attack during the Hmong Arts Celebration on Oct. 24.

CBS News - The FBI began communicating with Mohamud's parents in May 2025.

WHY:

CBS News - Mohamud stated he wanted to attack the Mall of America "because it's owned by Jewish."

CBS News - He was inspired in part by last year's deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

CBS News - Mohamud expressed a desire to attack the Mall of America because "it's owned by Jewish."

CBS News - He was inspired by the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia and the New Orleans attack in January 2025.

CBS News - Mohamud stated he would attack in the U.S. instead of traveling to Somalia to join al-Shabaab, saying he was doing it "for the sake of Allah only."

HOW:

CBS News - The FBI's investigation included monitoring Mohamud's communications with a "confidential human source" through social media and encrypted messaging applications from December 2024 until his arrest.

ABC News - The FBI's investigation included monitoring Mohamud's communications with a "confidential human source" through social media and encrypted messaging applications.

CBS News - Mohamud was arrested at gunpoint during an arranged meeting to purchase an AK-47-style rifle for $600.

CBS News - The weapon involved in the case is identified as a Norinco AK-47 assault rifle, model Mac-90 Sporter, with approximately 200 live rounds of 7.62x39-caliber ammunition.

CBS News - Mohamud had left an undercover employee's vehicle with the rifle, four magazines, and 200 rounds of ammunition when he was arrested.

CNN - Mohamud received a Norinco AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition to commit a felony and a federal crime of terrorism.

CBS News - Mohamud communicated with a "confidential human source" through social media and encrypted messaging applications from December 2024 until his arrest.

CBS News - Mohamud had previously discussed buying two pistols online before planning the attack.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 11:00 UTC)

Mohamud's father allegedly directed FBI agents to his attorney when they reached out regarding his son, who is accused of planning an attack on the Mall of America during the Hmong Arts Celebration on October 24. Reports indicate that Mohamud expressed a desire to carry out the attack in the U.S. for the sake of Allah, citing inspiration from the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. The FBI's investigation involved monitoring Mohamud's communications with a confidential source through social media and encrypted messaging applications from December 2024 until his arrest.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 02:16 UTC)

Mohamud is set to appear in court on October 10, 2026. The FBI's investigation into him involved monitoring his communications with a "confidential human source" via social media and encrypted messaging applications. This scrutiny highlights the ongoing efforts to track potential threats through advanced technology.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 01:32 UTC)

Mohamud has been accused of planning an attack during the Hmong Arts Celebration scheduled for October 24. He was arrested at gunpoint during a meeting where he intended to purchase a Norinco AK-47 assault rifle, specifically a model Mac-90 Sporter, for six hundred dollars. Authorities also found approximately two hundred live rounds of 7.62x39-caliber ammunition in connection with the case.

(UPDATED October 7, 2026 21:00 UTC)

Mohamud expressed a desire to carry out an attack at the Mall of America "around Christmas," citing that he wanted to target the location because it is owned by Jewish individuals. He was reportedly inspired in part by last year's deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Authorities arrested Mohamud after he left an undercover employee's vehicle with a rifle, four magazines, and 200 rounds of ammunition.

(UPDATED October 7, 2026 19:07 UTC)

Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an 18-year-old, has been arrested and charged with terrorism for allegedly planning a mass casualty attack at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, using an AK-47 rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Authorities, including U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson, report that Mohamud was taken into custody at gunpoint while attempting to purchase the rifle for $600, and he had around 200 live rounds at the time. He reportedly expressed a desire to carry out the attack during the Hmong Arts Celebration on October 24, motivated by extremist beliefs and inspired by previous mass shootings.