MAGNA, Utah (ABC4) — Two men from Magna have been arrested on multiple charges related to weapons of mass destruction and the threat of terrorism after a federal investigation led to the evacuation of multiple homes in the area on Friday. The investigation followed the discovery of an explosive located underneath a news media vehicle in Salt Lake City.
Adeeb Nasir, 58, and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir, 31, were arrested in Salt Lake County on Sunday on two counts of weapon of mass destruction – manufacture/possess/sell/use, a first-degree felony; attempted aggravated arson, a first-degree felony; four counts of explosive/chemical/incendiary – possessing parts, second and third-degree felonies; and two counts of threat of terrorism – use of weapon/hoax mass destruction, a second-degree felony.
On Sept. 12, members of the Salt Lake City Police Bomb Squad and Unified Fire Authority Arson/Bomb Squad responded to a suspicious device located in Salt Lake City. The device — an incendiary device — had reportedly been placed underneath a news media vehicle parked next to an occupied building.
The device had reportedly been lit but failed to function as designed, police said. Authorities confirmed that it was determined the incendiary device was real.
Due to the nature of the device and its placement, this incident constituted a significant threat to public safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assumed jurisdiction over the investigation. They determined that two suspects were associated with the incident and tracked them to a residence in Magna, located on the 2700 South block of 8500 West.
It was also confirmed that the suspects lived at that address.
The following day, on Sept. 13, the FBI served a federal search warrant at the residence with the help of local authorities’ bomb squads to ensure that the residence was cleared of any explosive devices.
Both suspects were found at the residence and arrested. Squad members cleared the home and found two hoax weapons of mass destruction inside, along with two firearms and illegal narcotics.
When questioned about the devices, both suspects reportedly told police that they were real. As a result, all law enforcement personnel executing the search warrant evacuated the residence and began proper procedure to dispose of the devices. Neighboring homes were also evacuated.
“The initial FBI search warrant authorized the seizure of evidence specifically related to the incendiary devices,” arrest documents state. “However, during the course of executing that warrant, law enforcement personnel observed additional contraband and evidence of crimes outside the scope of the original warrant, to include firearms and firearm-related items, explosives and explosive-related components, illegal narcotics and associated paraphernalia, as well as electronic devices reasonably believed to contain evidence of the above-described crimes.”
Due to use of illegal drugs, Adeeb is a restricted person with a protective order against him that prevents him from possessing firearms. The second suspect, Adil, is also a restricted person due to illegal narcotic use.
The relationship of the two individuals has not been released.
Their actions created a significant risk of mass casualties, police said.
Both men were booked into Salt Lake County Jail and ordered to be held without bail based on the aforementioned charges.
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