A federal judge ruled Monday that an 18-year-old Minnesota man accused of plotting a terrorist attack on the Mall of America will stay in jail pending trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster determined that Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud poses a significant threat to public safety and a flight risk, according to the Associated Press.
The decision came after a hearing in which prosecutors detailed an extensive FBI undercover operation that spanned nearly two years. Mohamud allegedly communicated with a confidential informant and paid $600 to an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS member for an AK-47 rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition. He was arrested on October 6 in a public park after the transaction, according to federal documents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar characterized the case as extremely serious, stating that Mohamud was “as close to committing a terrorist attack as he could have gotten.” Bejar added, “He was 100% committed to doing this crime and he was 100% committed to doing it on behalf of ISIS.”
Prosecutors also presented evidence that Mohamud had expressed a desire to become a martyr and pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group during his arrest. FBI Special Agent Keegan Rupenthal testified to these details, which were also noted by the Associated Press.
Mohamud’s defense attorney, Manny Atwal, argued that her client was only 16 when the confidential informant first contacted him. She contended that his only access to weapons came through FBI-provided channels, suggesting entrapment. Atwal had proposed that Mohamud be released to a halfway house with GPS monitoring and no internet access, but the judge rejected that request.
The case has drawn attention to broader concerns about domestic terrorism and the radicalization of young people online. This incident also highlights the ongoing threat of terror financing and the challenges law enforcement faces in countering extremist recruitment.
Minnesota has been a focus of federal counterterrorism efforts in recent years, with several Somali-American youths having traveled to Syria to join ISIS. The state’s political landscape has also been shaped by security issues, as seen in the Minnesota governor debate, where candidates addressed public safety and counterterrorism strategies.
Mohamud’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. His attorneys have indicated they will continue to challenge the detention, but for now, the young man remains in federal custody as the legal process moves forward.
