Police say a midnight traffic stop on Nov. 24 led to the arrest of 25-year-old Luqmaan Khan and the discovery of weapons, extended magazines, body armor and a notebook with alleged assault plans and campus diagrams. FBI agents later recovered an illegally converted Glock, a .556 rifle and additional tactical equipment at Khan’s Wilmington home. Khan faces state felonies and a federal machine-gun charge; the federal count carries up to 10 years in prison. Preliminary and federal detention hearings are scheduled for early December.
Late-Night Traffic Stop Allegedly Foils Planned Attack on University of Delaware, Court Docs Say
Authorities say a routine traffic stop just after midnight on Nov. 24 led to the arrest of 25-year-old Luqmaan Khan and the discovery of weapons and writings investigators allege showed plans to attack the University of Delaware.
New Castle County Police say officers pulled Khan over at a park roughly 15 miles from the university after growing suspicious when he refused to exit his vehicle. Officers reported finding a cache of tactical-style equipment and a notebook they say contained notes on assault planning and diagrams of campus buildings, including a sketch of the university police department.
What officers recovered
- From Khan’s vehicle: a loaded Glock .357 handgun, four loaded 27-round extended magazines, body armor, binoculars, a laptop and a notebook containing alleged notes on "warfare techniques" and premeditated assault plans.
- From Khan’s Wilmington home (per the FBI): a Glock 19 9mm fitted with an illegal machine-gun conversion device (a so-called "switch"), a .556 rifle with scope and red-dot sight, eleven additional extended magazines, hollow-point ammunition and a two-plate tactical vest with a ballistic plate.
Court documents cited by investigators say Khan told agents that becoming a "martyr" was his "goal" and called it "one of the greatest things you can do," though the documents do not elaborate on any broader ideological affiliation.
Charges and legal status
Local authorities charged Khan with a state felony for possession of a large-capacity magazine and a felony for carrying a concealed deadly weapon, along with multiple misdemeanor counts including resisting arrest and vehicle-related violations. Federal authorities added a charge for possession of a machine gun device. If convicted on the federal count, Khan faces up to 10 years in prison.
Khan was arraigned at the county jail, transferred to federal custody and is scheduled to appear at preliminary and detention hearings in early December. The university has temporarily banned him from campus while the legal process proceeds.
Investigation status
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation. Officials have described the traffic stop as a critical intervention that prevented a potential attack on campus; federal and local agencies continue to review evidence and pursue charges as appropriate.
Help us improve.
