(AP) - The government's star witness has taken the stand at the trial of four men charged with trying to blow up Bronx synagogues and shoot down military planes.

Shaheed Hussain told jurors on Friday that he became an FBI informant after pleading guilty in 2003 to driver's license fraud. The FBI assigned Hussain to root out radicals at a mosque in Newburgh. Prosecutors say he convinced the defendants that he represented a terrorist organization and helped them hatch the plot.

The defendants were arrested on May 20, 2009.

Authorities say they went to the Bronx synagogues to plant bombs and prepare to launch missiles at planes coming from the Air National Guard base in Newburgh.

The weapons were inert devices supplied by the FBI.

Related Content:Lead FBI agent takes the stand in 'Newburgh Four' trial Jury selection nearing end in terror trial of Newburgh 4Jury selection begins in trial of 'Newburgh Four'Informant is key to NY synagogues bomb plot caseWiretaps OK in suspected Newburgh terrorists trial