Authorities say a Utah man is facing terrorism charges after being arrested for planting an explosive device under a news car in Salt Lake City.
Adeeb Nasir, 58, of Magna, Utah, was detained Sunday on suspicion of putting the explosive device, which was lighted but “failed to function,” police said.
On Friday, the Salt Lake City Police Bomb Squad and the Unified Fire Authority Arson/Bomb Squad responded to a suspicious device hidden beneath a news media vehicle parked close to an occupied building, which was discovered to be real.
Nasir is facing nine accusations, including two counts of weapons of mass destruction and two counts of terrorist threat.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) took main responsibility for the investigation and issued a federal search warrant to the property on Saturday, with the assistance of local bomb squads.
“The FBI discovered what appeared to be potentially hazardous materials that could pose a threat to public safety,” the agency said in a statement to ABC.
Following the FBI’s first investigation, two individuals were linked to the crime, and both lived at the same address where the search warrant was executed.
The second individual was identified as Adil in Nasir’s probable cause summary, and no arrest paperwork have been discovered at this time. The relationship between the two people has not been revealed.
“The initial FBI search warrant authorized the seizure of evidence specifically related to the incendiary devices,” according to the paperwork.
Squad personnel cleared the house and discovered two fake weapons of mass devastation, two firearms, and illegal narcotics.
Neighboring residences were evacuated during the search due to the explosives discovered.
There was no information regarding a suspected motive.
Nasir was placed into Salt Lake County Jail and ordered held without bond, according to records.
