Update: Tucson Man Arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism

Documents were released Wednesday, June 6 in the case of Mahin Khan, who was arrested last week and accused of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism in Pima and Maricopa counties.

A heavily redacted two-and-a-half page document contains information on Khan's alleged correspondence efforts with several individuals in regards to terroristic actions and intentions. In one conversation, Khan allegedly said that Mission Bay, Calif. would be “a pretty good target right there. There’s(sic) a lot of people there.” Within the same conversation, Khan also allegedly requested two assault rifles, a pistol and made mention of an Air Force recruitment center as a possible target here in Tucson.

In an email conversation, Khan allegedly attempted to contact Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, a terrorist group operating within Pakistan, about plans to create an improvised explosive device.

Around Jan. 16, Khan apparently asked a man named “Abid Manoor” if he was a member of TTP and could supply weapons for what authorities are saying Khan called a “martyrdom operation.”
Furthermore, Khan allegedly told Manoor that he supporter of ISIL ( also known as ISIS), the TTP and was planning to “take out marines and jews.”

In a later correspondence, Khan instead asked to be supplied with what he referred to as a “pressure cookie,” which authorities indicated was likely referring to a pressure cooker improved explosive device, and that Khan was asking for a recipe to create one.

According to the Maricopa County Superior Court records, Khan will have a status conference this Friday, July 8, and a preliminary hearing set for July 12.

Click here to see the court document on the Tucson Local Media website. 

Original Story:

After a joint investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a Tucson man was arrested last Friday, July 1, and booked into the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix facing two charges: one count of conspiracy to commit terrorism and one terrorism charge.

Mahin Khan, an 18-year-old resident of Tucson’s Catalina Foothills region, has been ordered by a judge to be held without bond this weekend. Khan is accused of planning to launch acts of terrorism against government buildings in Maricopa and Pima counties, though specifics of the case have been ordered temporarily sealed to protect the investigation. The specifics are contained in court records that have been ordered sealed until later this week.

Living with his parents, Khan previously attended Catalina Foothills High School for a short time in August of 2013, though was quickly withdrawn from the school.

According to reports, Mia Garcia, a spokesperson for Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, said that the investigation led to no connection between any alleged attacks and the recent 4th of July holiday weekend.

"The Arizona Attorney General's Office is working closely with federal authorities to keep Arizonans safe,” Garcia said.

We'll update this story as more information is made available.