The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an ISIS supporter, for allegedly plotting a terror attack to kill ‘kuffar’ at the Mall of America in Minnesota.
Mr Mohamud, who allegedly planned to carry out a mass shooting at the Mall of America, was arrested after buying an AK-47-style rifle, magazines and ammunition from an undercover FBI agent.
FBI Czar, Kash Patel, on Wednesday said, “An ISIS-inspired terrorist allegedly wanted to slaughter 30–60 innocent Americans at the Mall of America.”
Lauding the FBI for thwarting Mr Mohamud’s planned terror attack, Mr Patel said on X: “He got an AK-style rifle and 200 rounds. He also got the FBI. ARRESTED before he could hurt a single American. This FBI doesn’t wait for terrorists to attack. We find them, disrupt them, and put them in handcuffs.Outstanding work by our Minneapolis team. We are staying on offense. America First.”
An affidavit filed in federal court in Minnesota stated that Mr Mohamud, 18, had spent months discussing his planned terror attack with an FBI source.
“I can’t wait until I kill kuffar man. October 24 is the day insha Allah,” Mr Mahmoud had told the FBI source, whom he believed was an ISIS brother.
The affidavit stated that when the FBI source asked why he planned the attack for October 24, Mr Mohamud pointed to a “Hmong Arts Celebration” at the Mall of America, saying it would have “a lot of people.”
At a press conference on Wednesday, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, Christopher Dotson, narrated how Mr Mahmoud was arrested as he met a disguised FBI agent whom he believed was a loyal agent of ISIS to purchase arms and ammunition for his planned attack.
“Mohammed planned to use the gun he bought in a high-traffic public area just a few weeks’ time in support of a designated foreign terrorist organization,” Mr Dotson said.
While engaging with FBI undercover agents, Mr Mohamud, who is now charged with purchasing a firearm and ammunition to carry out terrorism, had said he wanted to leave the United States to join al-Shabaab in Somalia.
The court affidavit stated that in May, he confided in the FBI source that he was “so excited to make hijrah,” returning to Somalia, to “fight the enemies of Allah.” However, he changed his plan and decided to carry out the terror attack on American soil.
“I will do attack here,” Mr Mahmoud told the FBI source while discussing how to purchase arms and ammunition. But he was arrested as he met an undercover FBI agent disguised as an ISIS supporter.
During the meeting, Mr Mahmoud paid $800 for an AK-47-style rifle, four magazines and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition. He allegedly also said he planned to carry out a shooting at a “kuffar festival” at the Mall of America.
Reacting to the FBI’s arrest of Mr Mohamud and the thwarting of his planned terror attack, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the FBI “did a great job.”
