Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic candidate for Minnesota governor, commended law enforcement Wednesday following the FBI’s arrest of an 18-year-old man accused of preparing an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America.
“I’m grateful for the heroic work of law enforcement that prevented a mass shooting and terrorist attack at the Mall of America,” Klobuchar said in a statement. She added that the case underscores the need for continued, large-scale cooperation and funding for counterterrorism efforts and local police. “Our state must take terrorism and violent crime head on,” she said, emphasizing coordination among federal agencies and Minnesota law enforcement to protect residents.
Klobuchar has served in the U.S. Senate representing Minnesota since 2007. She is set to face Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the November election for governor.
Her remarks followed the federal announcement that Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, had been taken into custody. Investigators allege that Mohamud pledged support to ISIS and talked about launching a mass-casualty attack at the Mall of America.
Federal court records say Mohamud spent months discussing a potential attack before allegedly purchasing an AK-47-style rifle, four magazines and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI operative on Tuesday.
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Although the rifle had been disabled and could not fire, the ammunition involved in the alleged transaction was live.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Mohamud “allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS,” but said agents arrested him before the alleged plan could move forward.
President Donald Trump likewise applauded the FBI’s work when reporters asked him about the arrest Wednesday.
“I did hear about it. And they did a great job. The FBI did a great job,” Trump said.
Mohamud faces a charge of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing—or having reasonable cause to believe—that the items would be used to commit a felony and a federal terrorism offense.
Fox News Digital reporters Stephen Sorace and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
