PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The father of an Oregon terrorism suspect called the FBI in August 2009 to warn that his son planned to fly to Yemen to become a violent jihadist.
The phone call came to light Tuesday during an evidentiary hearing for Mohamed Mohamud. The 20-year-old Somali-American is charged with plotting to detonate what turned out to be a fake bomb at a Portland, Ore., Christmas-tree lighting ceremony in November 2010.
FBI agent Ryan Dwyer says Mohamud’s father, Osman Barre (OHS’-man BAHR’-ree), was afraid for his son when he called the agency and reported the plans. Dwyer says Barre told agents his son was “still a child” and didn’t know what he was doing.
Barre was in court Tuesday but declined to comment.
A trial is scheduled for October.
