US man charged over alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack Mall of America ‘because its owned by Jewish’

US authorities charge a man who allegedly planned a mass shooting at a shopping mall in Minnesota in support of the Islamic State group.

The FBI arrested Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, after he bought an AK-47 rifle and ammunition from an undercover agent in a sting operation that foiled his apparent plot.

“This individual allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans,” says FBI Director Kash Patel.

Mohamud, from Richfield, Minnesota, allegedly intended to kill 30 to 60 people at the nearby Mall of America.

According CNN, the affidavit says that Mohamud wrote he intended to target the mall “because its owned by Jewish so if I kill even 30 people noone would go there anymore. I want to harm the jew just like the brothers in Australia bondi beach harmed the jews.”

He is accused of sharing his intentions with an FBI source in hundreds of messages exchanged since 2024, including a selfie-style video whereby Mohamud pledged his allegiance to ISIS.

Mohamud allegedly said he wanted to emulate other ISIS-inspired attacks such as the 2016 Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Florida and the 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack targeting the Jewish community in Australia.

He is said to have identified October 24 for his planned shooting — saying it would target Asians and other non-Muslims during a planned “Hmong Arts Celebration” at the mall.

“As alleged in the criminal complaint, Mohamud took substantial steps to plot to murder innocent people in the name of ISIS,” says Daniel Rosen, US attorney for Minnesota.

Mohamud is charged with one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition in order to commit a federal crime of terrorism.