Man eyed Minnesota
Federal authorities say an 18-year-old man, Mohamud, was arrested Tuesday in Richfield, Minnesota, during a planned meeting to buy an AK-47-style rifle for $600. A criminal complaint was filed Wednesday.
Court documents say Mohamud had watched footage of the 2016 Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando and described a plan to enter and shoot. The FBI says it contacted his parents in May 2025; his father directed agents to a lawyer.
At the meeting, authorities say Mohamud left an undercover employee’s vehicle with the rifle, four magazines and about 200 rounds of ammunition before he was arrested. The allegations are contained in court filings.
Minnesota’s U.S. attorney and the FBI’s local special agent in charge planned a Wednesday news conference about a major counterterrorism action. Officials had not confirmed whether it was connected to Mohamud’s case.
Key points
- Mohamud was arrested during an alleged attempt to purchase an AK-47-style rifle.
- The complaint alleges he discussed attacking the Mall of America and other locations.
- Authorities had not said whether a planned counterterrorism news conference concerned his case.