Oregon car bomb plot trial begins this week

NBC — The trial of the man accused of trying to set off a car bomb at a Portland holiday ceremony begins this week.

Twenty-one year-old Mohamed Mohamud is accused of attempting to detonate a weapon of mass destruction.

Prosecutors say he intended to set off an 1,800 lb. car bomb at a Portland christmas tree lighting ceremony in 2010.

The bomb was a fake provided by the FBI.

Prosecutors say the Somali-born Mohamud was highly motivated to carry out violent jihad.