Terror suspect accused of plotting attack at Maricopa County MVD office

The Tucson man arrested Saturday in connection with terrorist threats is accused in a grand-jury indictment of a conspiracy to induce terrorism at a Motor Vehicle Division office in Maricopa County.

The grand jury charged Mahin Khan with three counts: terrorism; conspiracy to commit terrorism; and conspiracy to commit misconduct involving weapons, according to the indictment, dated Wednesday.

The indictment was based on 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 exact location of the MVD facility that was targeted wasn't being released for safety reasons, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

Agents probed the 18-year-old Khan’s alleged repeated communication and conspiracy with an individual whom he believed to be a fighter with ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, to obtain weapons including pipe bombs or pressure-cooker bombs, according to a statement from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich on Thursday.

Khan sought a recipe for a pressure-cooker bomb, two assault rifles and a pistol, according to a court document released Wednesday.

FBI: Tucson terror suspect sought 'pressure-cooker bomb'

That document said Khan discussed other potential targets, including an Air Force recruitment center in Tucson, and said that he had reached out to a member of a known foreign terrorist organization asking how to build a pressure-cooker bomb.

Khan was taken into custody Friday by the FBI in Tucson. He was being held without bond in a Maricopa County jail.

An investigation into Khan’s alleged conspiracy and terror activities continues, but there was not believed to be a further threat from him or his activities, Brnovich said.

"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," Brnovich said in a statement Thursday.

"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's Phoenix office, in a statement Thursday.  "Incredibly significant to this investigation were the citizens who came forward and alerted investigators to the suspicious behavior."

DeLeon said, "As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and report suspected terrorist or criminal activity online at tips.fbi.gov."

Khan's next court appearance was scheduled July 12 in Maricopa County Superior Court.