FBI says sting stopped planned Mall of America attack: what we know

Federal authorities say they stopped a planned mass shooting at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, after an undercover FBI employee sold an 18-year-old an AK-47-style rifle during a sting operation, according to the Associated Press.

The man was arrested Tuesday in a public park in Richfield, a few miles from the mall, and made his first appearance in federal court in St. Paul on Wednesday, AP reported. The allegations come from a federal criminal complaint. He has not been convicted of any crime.

## What prosecutors say happened

According to AP, the FBI first became aware of the man in December 2024, the same month a confidential informant began messaging him. Prosecutors say he first talked about traveling overseas to fight for the extremist group al-Shabab, then decided he could not afford the trip and would carry out an attack at home instead.

CBS Minnesota reported that the complaint describes messages with the FBI source running from December 2024 to Oct. 6, 2026, and says he allegedly posted a video on Discord pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.

Prosecutors say he planned to attack the Mall of America on Oct. 24, the date of a scheduled Hmong arts celebration, with the goal of killing non-Muslims, according to AP and CBS Minnesota. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said the man described intending to kill "maybe 30 to 60 people," AP reported.

## How the sting worked

On Tuesday, an undercover FBI employee posing as an ISIS member sold the man an AK-47-style rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition for $600, according to AP. Fox News reported the sale also included four magazines. He was arrested at the scene.

According to the complaint as described by AP, he told the informant "yes i am 100% sure" and said that otherwise he "would have backed out by now."

CBS Minnesota reported prosecutors allege he knowingly received a firearm and ammunition while knowing, or having reason to believe, they would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism, and that the alleged crimes include providing or conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

## What officials and the defense say

"This was a radicalized young man who needed to be watched," Rosen said, according to AP. Rosen said agents disrupted the threat before it could be carried out.

AP reported that FBI agents visited the man's home in May 2025. His mother told them he was not yet home from school, and his father declined to talk and said he would pass their contact information to a lawyer. Rosen urged parents to take warnings from federal law enforcement about radicalization seriously.

The man was represented in court by a federal public defender, who declined to comment, as did his relatives, according to AP.

## Background

According to AP, the man had no job, house, car or money in the bank, based on his own statements in court. No court has ruled on the evidence in this case, and the defense has not publicly responded to the allegations.

## What happens next

The case now moves through federal court in Minnesota. As of Wednesday afternoon, news reports had not said whether he has entered a plea or when his next court date is. The mall was not attacked, and no one was hurt.