SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Two men were arrested after an incendiary device was found under a news media vehicle in Salt Lake City, authorities said, but the device failed to detonate.
Police and fire department bomb squads responded Friday when a suspicious device was discovered beneath the vehicle, which was parked near an occupied building. Investigators concluded the device "had been lit but failed to function as designed," according to court records cited by CBS affiliate KUTV.
Federal and local authorities identified two suspects and executed a search warrant at a home in the Magna neighborhood west of downtown Salt Lake City, the FBI said. Two men, ages 58 and 31, were taken into custody and could face charges related to weapons possession and threats of terrorism, ABC affiliate KTVX reported Sunday.
Neighbors were evacuated during the search. Court records said investigators recovered explosives and explosive-related components, firearms, illegal narcotics and other paraphernalia. Authorities also found at least two devices that were determined to be hoax weapons of mass destruction.
Officials have not released information about a possible motive or the relationship between the two suspects. The FBI and Salt Lake City Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and additional details, including potential charges, will be determined as the probe continues.
Local bomb squads were on scene to render safe the device found under the vehicle and to examine materials seized at the Magna residence, according to the law enforcement accounts cited by local media. Authorities did not say whether any injuries occurred, and no detonations were reported.
Court records referenced by KUTV and reporting by KTVX provided the timeline of events and the inventory of items recovered, including explosive materials and firearms. Law enforcement officers have routinely warned that devices that appear to be explosive can pose risks even when they fail to function, and agencies said safety protocols were followed during the response and search operations.
As investigations by local and federal agencies continue, officials urged anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Salt Lake City Police Department or the FBI. No formal charging documents were filed publicly by Sunday, and authorities said they would release further information as it becomes available.