World · India Bureau
US authorities arrest teenager over alleged ISIS-linked mall attack plot
An 18-year-old has been arrested in the United States for allegedly planning a terror attack at a major shopping mall. Federal investigators say they identified and disrupted the plot before it could be carried out.
LSN India ·
US law enforcement agencies have arrested an 18-year-old suspect accused of plotting a terrorist attack at the Mall of America, one of the largest shopping centres in the United States. Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud was taken into custody following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation into his alleged links with the extremist group ISIS.
According to US authorities, Mohamud had expressed intentions to carry out violence against non-Muslims during a scheduled Hmong cultural celebration at the mall. Investigators say the teenager agreed to purchase an AK-47 rifle and ammunition from an undercover FBI agent who posed as a member affiliated with ISIS during the operation.
Federal officials stated that Mohamud's radicalization was detected and monitored well before his purported plans could advance to an operational stage. The case highlights ongoing concerns among US security agencies regarding the recruitment and radicalization of young individuals through extremist networks.
The arrest comes as US authorities continue to assess potential domestic terrorism threats linked to international militant organisations. Officials have not released additional details regarding the timeline of the investigation or the specific nature of communications that led to Mohamud's identification.