The trial of a man accused of plotting to blow up an Oregon Christmas-tree lighting ceremony is set to begin.

Mohamed Mohamud's trial is scheduled to start with jury selection on Thursday in Portland's federal courthouse.

News media and the public will be barred from the courtroom during jury selection. Instead, they'll watch the selection on closed-circuit monitors from three floors away.

The FBI says Mohamud intended to kill thousands when he tried to detonate a bomb at the tree lighting in November 2010. The bomb was a fake, supplied by undercover agents who Mohamud thought were his co-conspirators.

Mohamud's defense team has suggested in court documents that it will pursue an entrapment defense.