Mankato, Minnesota — A St. Peter man has been arrested for allegedly stealing from a business, but authorities suspect he was also planning a “mass casualty event.”
Mohamed Aden Mohamed, 24, allegedly entered a Mankato business on April 17 wearing a heavy winter coat, hat, gloves, and a face mask. According to the criminal complaint, he left behind a shopping list labeled “Survival Gear List with Alternative” that included sleeping bags, lighters, 8 magazines, knives, pepper spray, bows and arrows, and a “6-mag chest right”.
According to court documents, Mohamed selected several magazines for a 9mm firearm and informed workers that he had an AR-style rifle calibrated to 9mm. He allegedly left the store with $2,150 worth of merchandise.
According to the criminal complaint, as he fled the store, security attempted a citizen’s arrest, but he got into his vehicle and drove away, nearly running over another person. According to court documents, police discovered his address by looking up the registration number of the vehicle he had driven.
Officers were already aware of Mohamed based on alleged social media posts, including one with the hashtag “#deathtoamerikkan&israelliImperialism.”
A BCA agent from Minnesota reported to police, “There were strong indicators that Mohamed was preparing to conduct some sort of attack (Mass Casualty Event) in the next twenty-four hours.”
Mohamed’s initial appearance in court is scheduled for May 1.
