What happened
An 18-year-old Somali-American man, Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, was arrested by the FBI in Minnesota for allegedly planning to carry out an ISIS attack at the Mall of America. According to a criminal complaint, Mohamud had posted a video online in September pledging allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group.
The FBI reported that Mohamud had planned to attack the mall on October 24 during a Hmong Arts Celebration. He was arrested after purchasing an AK-47-style rifle from an agency source. The complaint charges Mohamud with acquiring the rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition to commit a federal crime of terrorism.
Authorities say that Mohamud had expressed his desire to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab, but when he couldn't afford the trip, he decided to carry out a mass casualty attack in the US. He allegedly wanted to attack the Mall of America because it is owned by Jewish people and was inspired by a deadly antisemitic attack in Australia last year.
