FBI Foils Teen's Bomb And Mass Shooting Plot At Oregon Mall

The FBI thwarted a planned mass shooting and bombing at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington, about 50 miles north of Portland. The plot was uncovered on May 19, and a teenager was arrested on May 22. The FBI described the plot as "as serious as it gets" and moved swiftly to interrupt the plan and protect the community. The suspect, a Columbia County resident, had a nihilistic and violent ideology and shared his plans online, prompting authorities to place him under surveillance. The suspect had planned to use a chlorine bomb to incite panic and then shoot mall patrons as they exited the movie theatre, before committing suicide at a pre-determined location. Investigators found annotated schematics, weapons, and clothing the suspect planned to wear, along with three handguns, ammunition, four knives, and five digital devices were also discovered during a search. The Columbia County District Attorney's office is prosecuting the case. The FBI was able to prevent a potentially devastating attack thanks to a tip and swift action. The suspect's name is being withheld due to his age. The foiled plot is a testament to the importance of law enforcement's efforts to prevent violent crimes.