Federal agents arrested two Utah men accused of planting an incendiary device under a FOX 13 Salt Lake City news vehicle, a plot that investigators say could have caused serious harm had it gone off.
Utah pair under arrest for incendiary device under news truck
The alarming discovery was made Friday in the suburb of Magna, where authorities said the incendiary device had been lit but failed to detonate.
FBI officials identified the suspects as 58-year-old Adeeb Nasir and 31-year-old Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir. Both were booked into Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday and are being held without bail.
The pair face an extensive list of charges, including threat of terrorism, aggravated arson, possession of weapons of mass destruction, and possession of explosive devices.
Records show Adeeb Nasir, born in Pakistan, is a U.S. citizen and has also used the alias “Eddie Nash.”
Unified Fire Authority Investigations officer Jeffrey David Nelson wrote in an affidavit that “Due to the nature of the device and its placement, this incident constituted a significant threat to public safety.”
The FBI, joined by Salt Lake City Police and the bomb squad, raided the Nasir residence Saturday. According to investigators, they uncovered far more than they anticipated.
Raid reveals more than just an incendiary device
Officials described finding firearms, explosive materials, illegal drugs, and related paraphernalia beyond the scope of the original search warrant.
The arrest report revealed that during questioning, the two men allegedly told officers that “two hoax weapons of mass destruction” in their possession were actually real, prompting authorities to evacuate surrounding homes.
Adding to their legal troubles, both father and son were under protective orders that barred them from having firearms, stemming from documented drug-related histories.
“The FBI discovered what appeared to be potentially hazardous materials that could pose a threat to public safety,” the bureau told ABC News.
The foiled plot comes just days after another tragedy rocked Utah. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was gunned down Wednesday in Orem.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been taken into custody on suspicion of aggravated murder and felony firearm discharge.
His arrest was confirmed Friday by FBI Director Kash Patel and Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox.
Teenager arrested for vandalizing Charlie Kirk memorial
Meanwhile, in Arizona, a memorial for Kirk at Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters was vandalized over the weekend.
JUST IN: Man arrested after vandalizing Charlie Kirk memorial outside Turning Point USA's headquarters in Arizona. The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Ryder Corral. pic.twitter.com/N1LAMCniS1
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 14, 2025
Phoenix Police Sgt. Phil Krynsky said, “Officers were directed to a man who was seen damaging a community memorial in front of a business near 48th Street and Beverly Road. Officers were in the area to assist with traffic control due to a large community presence in the area following recent events.”
The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Ryder Corral. Witnesses reported he tore through the memorial before being taken down by bystanders and handed over to police. He faces charges of criminal damage and disorderly conduct.
Video footage captured Corral’s arrest, showing him in attire eerily similar to what Robinson wore during Kirk’s killing, a long-sleeved black shirt with an eagle and flag design and dark pants.
Supporters said Corral was recording himself while shouting hateful remarks about Kirk. “He wore the same shirt as the shooter did, and he was walking down, he had some kind of body cam device … he had a phone, I think he was recording himself because he was talking to himself, so I’m assuming he was recording himself,” witness Kyle Nickels recalled.
“He was saying a lot of hateful things towards Charlie, that I don’t want to reiterate, so me and the officer were staring at him, and I was like, ‘This guy’s going to do something.’”
FBI finds suspect’s DNA at Charlie Kirk crime scene
As for Robinson, prosecutors say evidence against him is piling up. FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed on Fox & Friends that DNA recovered from a towel wrapped around a discarded firearm matched Robinson.
His DNA was also detected on a screwdriver located on a rooftop. “I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm and the DNA on the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody,” Patel explained.
Patel noted that the weapon itself is still undergoing forensic analysis at an ATF facility in Maryland but confirmed that investigators reconstructed a note allegedly written by Robinson beforehand.
“The suspect wrote a note saying, ‘I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it,’” Patel said.
He added that forensic work confirmed its contents even though the note itself had been destroyed.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox also weighed in on Robinson’s lack of cooperation. “He has not confessed to authorities,” Cox told ABC’s This Week. “He is not cooperating, but all the people around him are cooperating, and I think that’s very important.”
Cox revealed new information gathered from Robinson’s circle, including confirmation that Robinson had a romantic relationship with his roommate.
“We do know that the roommate that we had originally talked about, we can confirm that that roommate is a boyfriend who is transitioning from male to female. So we know that piece,” Cox said. “I will say that that person has been very cooperative with authorities.”
