FBI thwarts terrorist bombing attempt at Portland holiday tree lighting, authorities say

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The FBI thwarted an attempted terrorist bombing in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square before the city's annual tree-lighting Friday night, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oregon.

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.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Economics, Politics • Terrorism

9 Comments
Posted November 27, 2010 at 9:54 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. SHSilverthorne+ wrote:

Holiday tree?

November 27, 1:16 pm | [comment link]
2. Catholic Mom wrote:

Well, that’s it now.  We shall all have to park our cars 1 mile away and walk to the lighting of any “holiday trees.”  We shall also have to remove all our outer clothing and watch in our underwear.

Actually, what this incident proves is 1) terrorists don’t need to get on planes to kill people 2) it is a far better strategy to target terrorists than to target non-terrorists.

November 27, 1:46 pm | [comment link]
3. drjoan wrote:

It’s not just the “holiday” tree but Steve Duin’s take on it too that is problematic
  http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf/2010/11/jihad_at_pioneer_courthouse_sq.html

Typical for Portland, they have to question the work the FBI has done to compromise this terrorist.
I also find it appalling that one of his age is so filled with hate.  So much for Islam being a “religion of peace.”  May the God of Abriaham, Isaac, and Jacob and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on his soul!
(From Dr. Joan who lives in Vancouver WA, just across the River from Portland!

November 27, 2:35 pm | [comment link]
4. John316 wrote:

Thanks to all who work to keep us safe during these times.

November 27, 2:56 pm | [comment link]
5. John Wilkins wrote:

#3 Actually, I think that plenty of young men can be prone to violence.  I put him in the same category of other kids who fantasize about violence giving them a sense of meaning.  Think Columbine.

His act tells us as much about Islam as McVeigh did about Christianity.

November 27, 7:02 pm | [comment link]
6. Fr. Dale wrote:

I think that plenty of young men can be prone to violence

John, why not finish this stereotype off with “all men are prone to violence.” I would admit that all people are capable of violence but few are prone to violence.

November 27, 9:27 pm | [comment link]
7. John Wilkins wrote:

Fr. Dale - my apologies. 

Of course, not all young men are prone to violence.  Thinking such is as ridiculous as thinking that all Muslims are prone to violence.

November 28, 3:39 pm | [comment link]
8. lostdesert wrote:

I believe I read that Portland was looking to provide voting rights for illegals.  Did I get the wrong city?  Don’t know if it was a non-binding ballot or binding.

November 28, 6:43 pm | [comment link]
9. lostdesert wrote:

Ooh, I think the voting issue was Portland, ME not OR, sorry.

November 28, 6:44 pm | [comment link]
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