Federal authorities arrested two men in Utah after an incendiary device was discovered beneath a FOX 13 News vehicle parked in Salt Lake City, officials said.
Adeeb Nasir, 58, and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir, 31, were taken into custody and booked at the Salt Lake County Jail on charges that include Threat of Terrorism, Possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction and Possessing Explosive Devices, according to court documents and local reports. The device was located on Friday, Sept. 12, and was determined to be real. Officials said the device had been lit but "failed to function."
Salt Lake City police, the Salt Lake City Police Bomb Squad and the Unified Fire Authority Arson/Bomb Squad responded to the scene after the device was found under a FOX 13 News vehicle that was parked next to an occupied building. Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital said the placement and nature of the device constituted a significant threat to public safety, prompting the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office to assume jurisdiction and take over the investigation.
Investigators traced the device to a residence near 2700 South and 8500 West in Magna, about 20 miles southwest of downtown Salt Lake City. FBI agents executed a search warrant at the property with the bomb squad ensuring the home was safe to enter. Authorities reported finding two hoax weapons of mass destruction, two firearms, bomb-making equipment, illegal narcotics and electronic devices believed to contain evidence of criminal activity.
Nearby homes in the neighborhood were evacuated while authorities conducted the search, officials said. Police and federal agents described the suspects’ actions as posing a "significant risk of mass casualties." Both men remain in custody pending further proceedings.
FOX 13 Station Manager Leona Wood said the station was cooperating with law enforcement and its risk management team, and that the safety of employees was the station’s top priority. Fox News Digital sought comment from the FBI and the Salt Lake City Jail but had not received a response.
The arrests come amid heightened attention to crimes targeting journalists and news organizations. Authorities did not release information indicating a motive for the placement of the device, and investigators said the probe was ongoing. As of this report, prosecutors had not announced whether federal charges would be filed in addition to the charges listed in local booking records.
Court records show the specific criminal counts attributed to the defendants, and law enforcement officials said evidence recovered at the Magna residence will be examined as part of the investigation. The FBI and local partners did not provide a timetable for when additional details or charging decisions would be released.
The case remains active, and officials urged anyone with information about the incident or related activity to contact the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office.
