FBI Supplied Rifle to Suspect During Undercover Terror Investigation
FBI provided AK-47 to suspect during undercover operation targeting alleged ISIS-inspired plot.
Event / Conflict
US ISIS-Inspired Terror Plot Minnesota
FBI arrests Minnesota man for plotting mass shooting at Mall of America as part of alleged ISIS-inspired attack. Undercover operation spanning nearly two years concludes with arrest on October 6, 2026, after suspect purchased weapons from federal agent.
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2026-10-08 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 8 Oct, 00:37 UTC
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What happened
FBI supplied suspect with AK-47 rifle during undercover operation
FBI agents sold an AK-47 assault rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition to the suspect for $600 on Tuesday. The firearm was sold by an undercover FBI employee posing as a member of the Islamic State group. The arrest occurred immediately after the transaction in a public park in Richfield, Minnesota. This operation was part of a nearly two-year surveillance and law enforcement disruption effort.
FBI arrests 18-year-old for planned terror attack on Mall of America
An 18-year-old American-born U.S. citizen of Somali descent named Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was arrested on Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota after planning a terror attack on the Mall of America. According to FBI documents, Mohamud had been under surveillance since December 2024 and expressed intentions to kill non-Muslims at the mall on October 24 during a scheduled Hmong arts celebration. He stated he intended to kill 30 to 60 people. The suspect appeared in federal court in St. Paul on Wednesday and was represented by a federal public defender.
Suspect had expressed interest in joining al-Shabab and ISIS before planning domestic attack
According to an FBI complaint, the suspect initially expressed interest in traveling to Somalia to fight for the extremist group al-Shabab, then showed interest in joining ISIS. Messages to a confidential informant expressed admiration for recent terror attacks. The suspect ultimately decided he could not afford international travel and shifted his focus to attacking the Mall of America instead.
FBI visited suspect's home in May 2025 after months of monitoring
In May 2025, FBI agents visited the suspect's home after nearly five months of surveillance. The suspect's mother answered the door and indicated he was not home from school. When contacted, the suspect's father declined to speak with agents and said he would provide their contact information to his lawyer.
Suspect expressed support for ISIS and detailed attack plans to FBI confidential source
Over approximately two years of communications with an FBI confidential informant, Mohamud allegedly discussed his hatred of non-Muslims, desire to join Islamic terror groups including al Qaeda, al Shabaab, and ISIS, and his commitment to carrying out a mass shooting. He expressed admiration for previous terrorist attacks including the 2024 New Orleans New Year's Eve attack, the 2017 Pulse Nightclub shooting, and the 2025 Bondi Beach attack. Mohamud stated he was '100% committed to the cause of dying for the sake of Allah' and claimed the Mall of America was 'owned by Jews,' which motivated his targeting of the venue.
U.S. Attorney describes extensive surveillance and law enforcement coordination
U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Dan Rosen announced the arrest, noting that federal law enforcement had conducted an 'outstanding law enforcement and intelligence operation' to detect and disrupt the threat. Rosen stated that agents were able to prevent the defendant from carrying out his stated intention to kill 30-60 people. The FBI had been monitoring Mohamud's activities and communications for nearly two years before the arrest.
FBI sold weapons to suspect as part of undercover sting operation
An undercover FBI employee posing as an ISIS member sold Mohamud an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, and 200 rounds of ammunition on October 6, 2026, for $600. The agent identified himself as an ISIS member during the transaction. Upon completion of the sale, Mohamud was immediately arrested at gunpoint by FBI agents at a public location.
FBI arrests 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud for plotting mass shooting at Mall of America
Federal authorities arrested 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud on October 6, 2026, after he purchased an AK-47 rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent. Mohamud had been under FBI investigation since December 2024 for planning a mass casualty attack. Court documents allege he planned to target the Hmong Arts Celebration at the Mall of America on October 24, 2026, with intentions to kill 30-60 people. He is believed to be a U.S. citizen born in the United States of Somali descent.
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FBI Arrests 18-Year-Old in Undercover Mall Attack Plot
FBI arrests Minnesota teenager for plotting mall attack with ISIS support during undercover operation.