<p><br /> US federal agents have said they stopped a Somali-born teenager from blowing up a van full of explosives at a crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mohamed Osman Mohamud, age 19, was arrested just after he dialled a mobile phone that he thought would detonate the explosives.<br /> </p><p><br /> Instead, it brought federal agents and Portland police swooping down on him.<br /> </p><p><br /> Yelling "Allahu Akbar!" - Arabic for "God is great!" - Mohamud tried to kick agents and police as they closed in, according to prosecutors.<br /> </p><p><br /> Prosecutors say the bomb was a dud supplied by undercover agents as part of the sting and the public was never in danger.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mohamud, a naturalised US citizen living in Corvallis, Oregon, was charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.<br /> </p><p><br /> He is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday.<br /> </p>
