Somali-born teen arrested in car bomb plot

A law enforcement official says federal agents began investigating the suspect in the Christmas tree bombing plot in Portland, Ore., after receiving a tip from someone who was concerned about the teenager.
The official told The Associated Press that Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, was acting on his own — without any instruction from a foreign terrorist organization.
The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Somali-born teenager plotted to carry out a car bomb attack at a crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Portland on Friday, but the bomb turned out to be a dud supplied by undercover agents as part of a sting, federal prosecutors said.
Mohamud was arrested at 5:40 p.m. just after he dialed a cell phone that he thought would blow up a van laden with explosives but instead brought federal agents and Portland police swooping in to take him into custody.
The thwarted attack occurred at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square before the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, The Oregonian reported.
Mohamud yelled "Allahu Akhkbar" and tried to kick agents and police as the arrest came, according to prosecutors. He was charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.