FBI thwarts terrorist bombing attempt at Portland holiday tree lighting

Portland (Oregon, US), - The FBI thwarted a bomb plot at the tree lighting ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday night.

According to a report in The Oregonian, a Corvallis man, thinking he was going to ignite a bomb, drove a van to the corner of the square at Southwest Yamhill Street and Sixth Avenue and attempted to detonate it.

However, the supposed explosive was a dummy that FBI operatives supplied to him, according to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint signed Friday night by U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta.

Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, a Somali-born U.S. citizen, was arrested at 5:42 p.m., 18 minutes before the tree lighting was to occur, on an accusation of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a 250,000 dollar fine. (ANI)