Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Called to Fight
The Associated Press
Minneapolis

Man charged with threatening to shoot, blow up Walgreens

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Abdul Raheem Habil Ali-Skelton
Abdul Raheem Habil Ali-Skelton
Courtesy of Olmsted County

A Minnesota man accused of lying to the FBI about when he last contacted the Islamic State group was charged Tuesday in state court after allegedly threatening to "shoot up" a Walgreens.

Abdul Raheem Habil Ali-Skelton, 23, faces three felony counts of making terroristic threats in connection with Sunday's incident at the store in Brooklyn Park.

According to the complaint, Ali-Skelton went into the store early Sunday and accused a customer of having a relationship with his girlfriend. The complaint said Ali-Skelton then advanced on the man multiple times and threatened to hit him with a bottle.

A store manager intervened and told the two to leave. Ali-Skelton said he had a gun and would "shoot up the place." He also said he was part of a terrorist organization and that he would "blow up" the store, the complaint said.

Ali-Skelton was in custody Tuesday and ordered held on $30,000 bail. Court records do not list an attorney to comment on the new charges.

Ali-Skelton is expected to plead guilty in U.S. District Court next month to one count of making a false statement to FBI agents.

In that case, federal prosecutors say Ali-Skelton told the FBI last July that his last contact with Syrian-based members of the Islamic State group was in May or early June 2015. But prosecutors say Ali-Skelton knew he had communicated with members of the group as recently as last July 4.

Ali-Skelton's attorney in the federal case, Robert Richman, has said his client was scared and made some comments to the FBI that he has since admitted were untrue. Richman did not elaborate on the nature of the alleged contact with members of the militant group.

Richman spoke about the state charges on Tuesday.

"From what I understand about those allegations, if they are true ... they are completely out of character with the very mild-mannered Abdul Ali-Skelton, (whom) I have known for quite some time," he said.

"I've been working with Mr. Ali-Skelton with respect to other matters and he is not dangerous. He is not violent."

Richman said the alleged communications between his client and Islamic State group members are not related to the new allegations. Ali-Skelton has another court date in the terror case set for next month, he added.

Federal authorities declined to say whether they are investigating the Walgreen's matter.

Kyle Loven, a spokesperson for the FBI, called it a "separate incident" from the federal case and deferred comment to Brooklyn Park police.

Ali-Skelton is not part of a broader terror-conspiracy case against a group of 10 young Twin Cities men who have been charged with plotting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. Four of the men have pleaded guilty, five are scheduled for trial in May, and another is believed to be fighting in Syria with the terror group.

MPR News reporters Laura Yuen and Brandt Williams contributed to this report