An 18-year-old accused of planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America has been ordered to remain in custody as the federal case against him proceeds.
Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, of Richfield, Minnesota, appeared before Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster in Minneapolis on Monday, following his arrest by the FBI on October 6.
He faces one federal charge of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition for use in committing a federal crime of terrorism. Judge Foster found probable cause for the case to continue and ruled that Mohamud posed a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Alleged Mall of America attack plan
Prosecutors say the arrest followed an investigation lasting almost two years, during which an FBI confidential source exchanged hundreds of messages with Mohamud across social media and encrypted messaging platforms.
According to the criminal complaint, Mohamud initially discussed travelling to Somalia to join al-Shabaab. Prosecutors allege that, after saying he could not afford the journey, he turned his attention to carrying out an attack in Minnesota in support of ISIS.
Investigators allege he shared ISIS propaganda and expressed a desire to kill non-Muslims. In July, prosecutors say, he began discussing an attack at the Mall of America, one of the country’s largest shopping centres.
Mohamud allegedly identified October 24 as a possible date because a Hmong Arts Celebration was due to attract large crowds at the Bloomington mall. The complaint says he told the informant he wanted to target people at the event.
As part of the FBI operation, an undercover employee arranged to sell him an AK-47-style rifle, four 30-round magazines and about 200 rounds of ammunition. The rifle had been rendered inoperable before the transaction, according to federal prosecutors.
Mohamud allegedly paid about $600 and took possession of the weapons and ammunition before being arrested. The US Attorney’s Office said the operation involved the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Bloomington police, with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation.
The Mall of America said after the arrest that it maintained several layers of security and would continue working with local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies.
Federal prosecutors have stressed that the criminal complaint contains allegations only. Mohamud is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in court.
