Photo credit: kstp.com

20-year-old Mahad Abdiaziz Adbiraham pleaded guilty Thursday to stabbing two men at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The stabbing attack took place November 12 when he stabbed two brothers in a dressing room at Macy's at the Mall of America. Abdiraham and his attorney read a statement at his plea hearing Thursday which explained why he attacked the two brothers.

In the statement, Adbiraham said he was answering the "call for jihad by the Chief of Believer, Abu-bakr Al-Baghdadi, may Allah protect him, and by the Mujahiden of the Islamic State."

The statement went on to say, "I understand that the two men I stabbed know and have explained the reason for my attack, and I am here reaffirming that it was indeed an act of Jihad in the way of Allah."

Adbiraham said that Americans will not be safe as long as "your country is at war with Islam." Omar Jamal, an activist with a Somali watchdog group, said, "This is a widespread sentiment with Somali youth."

Jamal added the federal government's effort to make it difficult for would-be jihadists to travel abroad and join terror groups has had an unintended side effect locally.

"What is very concerning in this instance, is the fact that youth are exploring more 'How can I do something here, what weapons are accessible," Jamal said.

The two brothers who were victims of Adbiraham's 'jihad' are not in the country but say they plan to return in time for his sentencing in February.

If authorities conclude the stabbing was an act of terrorism, (how can they not after his own admission) the penalty will be greater.

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Source: http://kstp.com/news/mahad-abdiaziz-abdiraham-mall-of-america-guilty-plea-jihad/4760698/