Minnesota teen accused of plotting terror attack at Mall of America to remain jailed

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An 18-year-old from Minnesota who prosecutors say planned a terror attack at the Mall of America and who was arrested after buying an AK-47 from an undercover FBI employee must remain in custody, a federal judge ruled Monday.Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an American-born U.S. citizen of Somali descent, won't be released because he's a risk to the community and a flight risk, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster said.Mohamud had been on the FBI’s radar since December 2024, when he began trading messages with a confidential informant. He was arrested Oct. 6 after meeting with an FBI employee posing as a member of the Islamic State group and paying $600 for the rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and four 30-round magazines, authorities said.“This was as close to committing a terrorist attack as he could have gotten,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar said during the hearing. “He was 100% committed to doing this crime and he was 100% committed to doing it on behalf of IS