UNITED STATES V. MOHAMUD 13 targets in Portland, and that he had a “brother that could help him with explosives.” About four hours after their meeting, Mohamud sent Youssef an unprompted email with copies of his three articles published in Jihad Recollections.8 Youssef replied that Mohamud was “talented.”9 E. Meeting with “Hussein” A few weeks later, on August 19, 2010, Youssef met with Mohamud again in downtown Portland and introduced him to “Hussein,” an undercover FBI agent posing as an al-Qaeda explosives expert. Youssef described Mohamud as a “jewel in the rough.” During the meeting, Mohamud told the agents he admired the Mumbai terrorist attack (in which ten men stormed buildings in Mumbai, India, and killed 164 people). About thirty-four minutes into the meeting, Mohamud told the agents that he wanted to detonate a bomb in Pioneer Courthouse Square during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 26, 2010, the day after Thanksgiving. Mohamud explained that he had researched other potential targets, but this was the best option because: 8 Mohamud also sent Youssef an article he had recently submitted to Inspire, the successor to Jihad Recollections, observing that: “Much can be done to hurt the enemy or prepare for Jihad. According to your circumstances you could perform Jihad against the enemy where you are currently living by Mumbai style attacks, but my article is directed towards those brothers waiting to travel to the lands of Jihad rather than touch upon the issue of attacks within the Western nations.” 9 The undercover agents frequently flattered and praised Mohamud for his good writing or behavior.