Christmas Tree Lighting Bomber Trial Starts
January 10, 2013, 7:40 am
The trial of a man accused of plotting to blow up a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square two years ago begins today in US District Court in Portland.
The FBI claims Mohamed Mohamud intended to kill thousands of people when he tried to detonate a bomb at the tree lighting ceremony in November 2010. The bomb was a fake, supplied by undercover agents who Mohamud thought were his co-conspirators. Mohamud's defense team claims it was entrapment. Jury selection could take several days. The trial is expected to last four weeks. If found guilty, he could get life in prison and pay a fine of up to $250,000.