Photo of Sheikhdoon Mohamud from federal criminal complaint
According to a federal criminal complaint filed today, a local Somali man, Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, has been plotting to either travel to Somalia and fight on behalf of foreign terrorist organizations or carry out a terrorist attack on civilians in the United States for nearly two years.
In communications Mohamud sent to another in March 2025, he expressed interest in martyrdom saying,
“That’s why I want to save up and go to another country…or just get a gun and start killing a bunch of white ppl.”
In May 2025, FBI agents attempted to speak with Mohamud and his parents about the communication. Mohamud’s father declined to speak and said he would provide the agent’s phone number to his attorney. No further mention is made on this subject, but Mohamud continued to plot to “fight the enemies of Allah.”
Over time Mohamud gave up on his plan to travel to Somalia and began focusing on an attack with firearms here in the United States.
In July 2026, Mohamud communicated to another that he was focusing on an attack at the Mall of America, (MOA) “because it’s owned by jewish…” (sic).
In August and September 2026, Mohamud discussed plans with another to purchase an AK-47 rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition which he would use in a mass shooting of civilians.
Mohamud also communicated that he had chosen to carry out his attack on October 24th because the “Hmong Art Celebration” was being held that day at the MOA and there would be a lot of people present.
The person Mohamud was communicating with asked Mohamud if he was committed to his attack. Mohamud responded,
“wallahi i want to do this, i am very serious i don’t care about anything in this world, i am 100% commited (sic) to the cause of dying for the sake of Allah only.”
In October 2026, Mohamud agree to meet a person he believed was a member of ISIS to purchase an AK-47, four magazines, and 200 rounds of ammunition. The “ISIS” member was actually an undercover FBI agent. The deal was set for October 6th.
The purported deal was surveilled by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force which arrested Mohamud at gunpoint after he exchanged $600 for the rifle and ammunition and began to leave the area of the meet.
Mohamud is in the custody of the US Marshal and awaits a first appearance in court, followed by a probable cause and detention hearing at a later date.
Cases like this, where an undercover government agent is involved in supplying contraband to a defendant, are routinely challenged on the grounds of entrapment. Based on the volume of communication made by Mohamud over nearly two years, specific to his planning, preparation, and desire for an attack, those arguments should be easily overcome.