Somali Leaders Hold Meeting for Understanding in Minnesota (USA)

19-year-old Mohamed Osman Mohamud is accused of trying to bomb a tree lighting ceremony in Portland but his lawyers claim it was entrapment. The failed plot is causing concern among Somali leaders in the Twin Cities.

He is pleading not guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. Last Friday, he drove a van to a crowded tree-lighting ceremony, thinking there was a bomb inside. Mohamud didn't realize he was working with undercover FBI agents.

The FBI says Mohamud chose the venue for the attack and shrugged off attempts to derail the plan.

They say it's important to reach out and teach people about their culture and that's exactly what they're hoping to do.

The Somali community is understandably concerned that given the headlines, there would be some backlash their community. Wednesday night, they attempted to build bridges by telling their own story. There was an impressive turnout Thursday night at the Dar Al-Hijr Mosque.

Among those in attendance were two FBI agents, who've worked closely on the youth who started leaving two years ago to back and fight in Somalia. Organizers saw this as opportunity to make connections and to explain the problems facing Somali youth.

And while the event was planned before the Portland car bomb attempt, it's clearly one of the issues on people's minds. Among the concern for the Somali youth is that they don't have enough recreational facilities or youth outreach workers. They face 80 to 90 percent unemployment. A Somali basketball league is one of the few recreational outlets and that league is out of money.

Source: MyFoxTwinCities