Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Mahin Khan, 18, of Tucson, charging him with Terrorism, Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism, and Conspiracy to Commit Misconduct Involving Weapons. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Phoenix Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including agents from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations Section.
"The Attorney General’s Office remains committed to partnering with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and all federal and local law enforcement partners to keep Arizonans safe," said Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
"I want to commend the work of the Arizona Attorney General’s offices, Federal, State, and local law enforcement partners and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force," said Michael DeLeon Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. "Incredibly significant to this investigation were the citizens who came forward and alerted investigators to the suspicious behavior. The FBI and prosecutors work every day to protect those who assist with investigations."
The charges stem from an investigation into Khan’s alleged repeated communication and conspiracy with an individual whom he believed to be a fighter with ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) to obtain weapons including pipe bombs or pressure cooker bombs, and commit an act of terror at a Motor Vehicle Division office in Maricopa County.
Khan was arrested in Tucson on July 1, 2016 by agents from the FBI and agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is being held without bond in the Maricopa County Jail pending trial on the indictment.
The investigation into Khan’s alleged conspiracy and terror activities remains ongoing, but there is not believed to be a further threat from him or his activities at this time.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Arizona Attorneys General Blaine Gadow and Scott Blake.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.