Executive Summary
- Luqmaan Khan was arrested after police discovered weapons and a journal detailing attack plans in his vehicle.
- Federal agents seized machine gun conversion kits, body armor, and an M4 rifle during searches of his car and home.
- The FBI alleges Khan mapped the University of Delaware police station and targeted a specific officer.
- Khan has been temporarily separated from the university and barred from campus while federal proceedings continue.
NEWARK, Del. — Luqmaan Khan, a 25-year-old University of Delaware student, has been arrested on federal weapons charges after the FBI alleged he plotted to attack campus police and detailed plans for "urban warfare" in a personal journal.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI, New Castle County police officers initially encountered Khan late Monday night at a closed disc golf park. Police noted that Khan behaved suspiciously and refused to exit his vehicle, leading to his arrest on state charges of resisting officers.
A subsequent search of Khan's vehicle revealed a significant cache of tactical gear and weaponry. The affidavit states officers recovered a loaded Glock .357 handgun, a brace designed to convert semiautomatic pistols into machine guns, body armor, loaded extended magazines, and binoculars.
Investigators seized a marble composition notebook from the vehicle, which they allege contained detailed attack plans. The affidavit describes handwritten notes referencing "ambushes" and "surprise attacks," alongside maps of what federal authorities identified as the University of Delaware Police Department station. The journal reportedly included entry and exit points, as well as the name of a specific university police officer targeted by the suspect.
Following the initial arrest, federal agents executed a search warrant at Khan's Wilmington residence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported the discovery of an unregistered 9mm Glock pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion kit, an M4 rifle with optical sights, and additional high-capacity magazines.
Laura Carlson, the interim president of the University of Delaware, confirmed in a statement that Khan has been temporarily separated from the institution and barred from campus grounds. While acknowledging the allegations were frightening, university officials emphasized there are no known immediate threats to the community.
Investigative and Legal Outlook
Khan, a naturalized U.S. citizen with no prior criminal record, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted on the federal charges of possessing a machine gun and an unregistered firearm. The case highlights the critical role of inter-agency cooperation between local police and federal bureaus in preempting potential mass casualty events. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
