Police say Delaware student’s arrest may have prevented campus attack

Police in Delaware believe they may have stopped a potential catastrophe after arresting a University of Delaware student found armed and equipped for violence.

(NBC)- Police in Delaware believe they may have stopped a potential catastrophe after arresting a University of Delaware student found armed and equipped for violence inside a park after hours last week.

Officers patrolling the area say they initiated a traffic stop after spotting Luqmaan Khan, who they describe as uncooperative and armed. Inside his truck, police say they found a loaded Glock handgun, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, an armored ballistic plate, and a notebook outlining plans for violence. According to a federal complaint, the notebook expressed his desire to be a “martyr” and named a University of Delaware police officer as a target. One entry read: “Battle efficiency: kill all — martyrdom, all combatants.”

The FBI says Khan is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Pakistan, and local police say he had been traveling back and forth recently. The notebook also contained a drawing of a University of Delaware building, marked with entry and exit points, according to federal documents.

A subsequent search of Khan’s home uncovered additional weapons and a device capable of converting handguns into machine guns, a discovery that shocked neighbors.

Khan, 25, now faces both state and federal charges. His federal arraignment is set for December 9. He has not yet entered a plea.

As Wilmington residents express relief, Chief Leonard praised the officers’ actions:
“This is the type of work that law enforcement across the country does every day.”