Somali Gang Violence in Minnesota: An Imam on Guns, Social Media and the Community Response

Bigger Than Belief · Oct 8, 2026 · 28m

The Twin Cities are grappling with a troubling wave of gun violence involving young people — and few conversations are more complicated than the one surrounding Somali youth and alleged gang activity. In the days surrounding this interview, shootings in Eden Prairie and Bloomington brought the issue back into the spotlight, as law enforcement leaders called for a more coordinated regional response. So what is actually happening? Why are young people getting caught up in violence? What role are social media and guns playing? And how can a community confront a real problem without painting an…