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Man charged over alleged Mall of America attack plan and ISIS pledge, FBI says

Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, was arrested in Minnesota after allegedly buying an AK-47-style rifle from an undercover FBI employee. A federal complaint says he discussed attacking the Mall of America and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

7 outlets · 2L · 1C · 4R First reported Account updated
Image: CBS News
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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an 18-year-old Minnesota man, was arrested at gunpoint on Tuesday during an arranged meeting to buy an AK-47-style rifle for $600, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Wednesday in St. Paul. Left · 1The affidavit says he had left an undercover employee's vehicle with the rifle, four magazines and about 200 rounds of 7.62x39-caliber ammunition when he was arrested; the weapon is described as a Norinco Mac-90 Sporter. Mixed · 2Authorities allege he knowingly received a firearm and ammunition knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, they would be used to commit a felony and a federal crime of terrorism.

Left · 1The complaint says an FBI confidential human source exchanged hundreds of messages with him on social media and encrypted apps from December 2024 until Tuesday, in which he allegedly expressed a desire to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab or commit a mass casualty attack in Minnesota. Left · 1The complaint says the FBI contacted his parents in May 2025, and his father declined to share information and directed agents to his attorney. Left · 1In July he allegedly said he lacked the money to go to Somalia and would attack in the United States instead, and later said he considered the Mall of America in Bloomington or Valleyfair in Shakopee around Christmas, possibly buying two pistols online first.

Left · 1He allegedly said he chose the mall "because it's owned by Jewish" and was inspired partly by last year's Bondi Beach attack in Sydney; he also allegedly said he had watched video of the 2016 Pulse nightclub attack and wrote, "I just walk in and shoot." Mixed · 2In September he allegedly told the source he wanted to attack during the Hmong Arts Celebration at the mall on Oct. 24, saying it would have "a lot of people"; Fox News quotes him as writing, "I can't wait until I kill kuffar man. October 24 is the day insha Allah." Left · 1The complaint also says he posted a video on Discord last month in which he allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Mixed · 2U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson were scheduled to brief the press at noon Wednesday on a counterterrorism action; the allegations are unproven court filings and both reports described the story as developing.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Detailed account of the complaint, tracing the months-long messaging, motives and the arrest.
Emphasis
Timeline of the informant exchanges, the parents' contact with the FBI, antisemitic motive and earlier attack references.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not give his age.
For example
“exchanged "hundreds of bi-directional messages through multiple social media and encrypted messaging applications"” — CBS News

Centre1 outlet

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right4 outlets

Framing
Short breaking report leading with the ISIS pledge and the planned mass shooting.
Emphasis
His age, the quoted threat and the Oct. 24 date.
Leaves out or plays down
Omits the antisemitic motive, the Somalia/al-Shabaab discussion and the parents' contact with the FBI.
Charged language
“kuffar”
For example
“I can’t wait until I kill kuffar man. October 24 is the day insha Allah,” — Fox News