Related Federal Cases
Bomb Plot Foiled in Portland
A chilling plot to detonate a vehicle bomb at Portland’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony was foiled by law enforcement officials on November 26, 2010. Mohamed Osman Mohamud, a 19-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia and resident of Corvallis, Oregon, was taken into custody after attempting to detonate what he believed to be an explosives-laden van in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
According to a criminal complaint signed in the District of Oregon, Mohamud was monitored closely for months as his alleged bomb plot developed. The device, however, was inert and the public was never in danger. Mohamud is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Portland on Monday, where he faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.
“The complaint alleges that Mohamud attempted to detonate what he believed to be a vehicle bomb at a crowded holiday event in downtown Portland, but a coordinated undercover law enforcement action was able to thwart his efforts and ensure no one was harmed,” said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
“This defendant’s chilling determination is a stark reminder that there are people — even here in Oregon — who are determined to kill Americans. The good work of law enforcement protected Oregonians in this case — and we have no reason to believe there is any continuing threat arising from this case,” added Dwight C. Holton, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Mohamud was in email contact with an unindicted associate overseas who is believed to be involved in terrorist activities in August 2009. In December 2009, Mohamud and his associate discussed the possibility of Mohamud traveling to Pakistan to engage in violent jihad. The investigation shows that Mohamud was absolutely committed to carrying out an attack on a very grand scale, according to Arthur Balizan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon.
“At every turn, we denied him the ability to actually carry out the attack,” Balizan said. The case serves as yet another reminder of the need for continued vigilance both at home and abroad, Kris added.
The threat was very real, and law enforcement officials worked tirelessly to ensure the public’s safety. While the public was never in danger, the investigation revealed a disturbing plot that could have had devastating consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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