Justice · Mall of America plotAlleged Mall of America Plot: $600 Undercover Rifle Sale Ends in ArrestAired October 12, 2026 at 9:56 AM UTCWritten October 12, 2026 at 10:03 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:09On October 8th, we reported the arrest.0:11Mohammed also appeared before a federal judge.0:15Prosecutors accuse the 18-year-old of planning a mass shooting at the Mall of0:19America during a public arts celebration.0:21What did the FBI stop?0:23And where does the criminal case stand now?0:25We reported his name as Sheikh Dunn Abdullahi Mohammed.0:29The correct name is Sheikh Dun Abdullahi Mohammed.0:32He's 18 and lives in Richfield, Minnesota.0:35Prosecutors accuse him of choosing the Mall of America as his target.0:38Prosecutors say Mohammed pledged allegiance to ISIS leaders and wanted to carry out0:43a mass shooting in support of the group.0:45Those allegations will have to be tested in court.0:48Mohammed is presumed innocent.0:50The FBI arrested Mohammoud in Richfield on October 6th.0:53Agents ended an arranged rifle purchase at gunpoint.0:56The alleged target was the Mall of America.0:59He appeared before a federal judge in St.1:01Paul the next afternoon, October 7th.1:03Prosecutors filed one count on October 7th.1:06They accuse Mohammed of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit a1:10federal crime of terrorism.1:12That charge puts the alleged weapons transaction at the center of the criminal case.1:16The government will have to prove both the conduct it alleges and the criminal1:20intent behind it.1:21The first court appearance began the judicial process, but it doesn't tell us how a1:25judge will assess the evidence.1:27Prosecutors say Mohammed paid $600 cash to an undercover FBI employee immediately1:32before agents arrested him.1:33The seller was part of the investigation.1:35Agents ended the transaction with an arrest before the attack date.1:38Prosecutors say Mohammed had proposed: The weapon has been described as an AK-47 or1:43an AK-47-style rifle.1:45Its exact model and whether it could fire haven't been made clear.1:48Prosecutors allege the purchase also included 200 rounds of ammunition.1:52Four magazines were described, each with a 30-round capacity.1:56We don't know whether the ammunition was live or inert, or whether those magazines2:00were loaded.2:01Mohammed allegedly told an FBI informant he wanted to attack during the Hmong Arts2:05celebration on October 24th.2:08That allegation places people gathering for a public cultural event in the path of2:12the proposed shooting at the shopping and entertainment destination.2:15The investigation involved both an informant and an undercover FBI employee.2:20The arrests stopped the alleged rifle transaction, and prosecutors have brought2:23their accusation into court.2:25The next consequential developments are a custody ruling, a hearing schedule, and2:29the defense's response.2:30Mohammed appeared before a federal judge on October 7th.2:33His custody status and next hearing date still aren't clear.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗