The FBI supplied an inert AK-47 to Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an 18-year-old accused of plotting a terror attack at the Mall of America, following a nearly two-year monitoring operation. This disclosure intensifies scrutiny of the agency's counterterrorism tactics and its role in developing alleged plots.

The FBI's involvement, providing an inoperable weapon to a suspect in a high-profile case like the Mall of America alleged plot, has revived public and legal discussion about the scope and ethics of such operations. Critics argue that these methods may constitute entrapment, potentially encouraging individuals who would not otherwise engage in violent acts. The FBI maintains these operations identify and neutralize threats before actual attacks [verified research].

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