Authorities in Delaware say they stopped a potential tragedy before it could unfold. The arrest of Luqmaan Khan, a 25-year-old University of Delaware student found with a vehicle packed with weapons, tactical gear, and a notebook outlining violent intentions, has shaken the campus community and prompted a national conversation on campus security and lone-actor threats.
Traffic stop foils alleged terror attack plot against UD police
Traffic stop foils alleged terror attack plot against UD police

Authorities in Delaware say they stopped a potential tragedy before it could unfold. The arrest of Luqmaan Khan, a 25-year-old University of Delaware student found with a vehicle packed with weapons, tactical gear, and a notebook outlining violent intentions, has shaken the campus community and prompted a national conversation on campus security and lone-actor threats.

What follows is a comprehensive profile of Khan, the timeline of the arrest, the evidence investigators uncovered, and what remains unknown as the case moves forward.

Who Is Luqmaan Khan? Background and Early Life

Investigators describe Luqmaan Khan as a 25-year-old undergraduate student enrolled at the University of Delaware at the time of his arrest. Born in Pakistan and raised in the United States, he held American citizenship and lived in Wilmington.

Neighbors and acquaintances recalled that he once worked casually as a barber and kept a low profile. Some described him as polite in earlier years, though several accounts suggested a shift in behavior leading up to the arrest. Until now, he had no criminal record, no documented history of violence, and no formal complaints filed against him on campus.

Little is publicly known about his academic performance, major, or social life at the university. University officials confirmed he was an active undergraduate but did not provide further details, citing privacy rules. After the arrest, the school issued an emergency ban prohibiting him from stepping foot on any campus property.

Though the facts paint a quiet, unremarkable student life, the discovery of weapons, tactical equipment, and handwritten plans tells a very different story.

The Arrest: A Routine Patrol That Uncovered Something Bigger

The breakthrough happened on the night of November 24, 2025, when New Castle County police officers noticed a white Toyota Tacoma parked inside Wilmington’s Canby Park West, which was closed at the time. As officers approached the vehicle, they observed Khan inside and noted behavior described as visibly nervous. He avoided eye contact, shifted repeatedly in his seat, and kept reaching toward one area in the truck.

Police ordered him to exit the vehicle. Khan refused. A physical struggle followed, and officers took him into custody.

Once he was detained, officers began a legal search of the vehicle. What they uncovered triggered immediate alarms at both state and federal levels.

Weapons and Tactical Gear Found in Khan’s Truck

Inside the Toyota Tacoma, officers found:

  • A loaded .357 Glock handgun fitted with a conversion brace designed to mimic a submachine gun

  • A loaded Glock magazine along with three extended 27-round magazines

  • A ballistic plate meant for use in body armor

  • A backpack, laptop, binoculars, and tactical equipment

  • A handwritten notebook filled with violent language, operational notes, and building sketches

The notebook would become the most disturbing discovery. Its contents included discussions of weapon operation, notes on avoiding police detection, outlines of what investigators called “warfare techniques,” and sketches of buildings associated with the University of Delaware Police Department.

One sketch was labeled “UD Police Station,” complete with entry points, exits, and structural layout. The pages also mentioned a specific campus police officer by name.

Most chilling was a line that read, “kill all – martyrdom.”

Authorities said that during interviewing, Khan expressed admiration for the idea of martyrdom, calling it “one of the greatest things you can do.”

At this point, local police notified federal investigators. The discovery suggested not only possession of illegal weapons but clear premeditation.

Search of Khan’s Home Reveals a Second Cache of Weapons

Within 24 hours, a team of FBI agents and local officers executed a federal search warrant at Khan’s Wilmington residence. What they found expanded the seriousness of the case and confirmed that the weapons in the truck were only part of a larger arsenal.

Recovered items included:

  • A Glock 19 pistol equipped with an illegal machine-gun conversion switch

  • A .556 rifle with a scope and red-dot sight

  • Eleven extended magazines

  • Hollow-point ammunition

  • A tactical vest with armored plates installed

  • Additional gear associated with target acquisition and assault planning

None of the firearms or equipment recovered from the vehicle or the residence were legally registered. The conversion devices, in particular, carry heavy federal penalties because they turn semi-automatic weapons into illegal machine guns.

Was There an Intended Target? What Investigators Believe So Far

Based on the notebook diagrams and entries, prosecutors now say that the primary target of the alleged attack appeared to be the University of Delaware Police Department rather than students or civilian areas of the campus.

The diagram labeled “UD Police Station” included a mapped layout of doors, hallways, and possible access points. Notes throughout the book discussed ways to avoid resistance and maximize damage. The way the entries were structured suggested weeks, if not months, of planning.

At this time, authorities say they have no evidence suggesting Khan planned to attack students or classrooms. Instead, the material points to a targeted assault against law enforcement officers working for the university.

This detail, while somewhat reassuring to the broader campus, remains deeply unsettling to public safety officials. Targeted attacks on police represent a rising concern nationwide, and investigators stressed that any attack involving automatic weapons could have easily escalated into mass casualties.

The motive beyond “martyrdom” remains unclear. Investigators have not publicly discussed ideological influences or whether Khan had ties to extremist networks, online groups, or foreign actors. They also have not released the full contents of the notebook.

Federal and State Charges: What Khan Faces Now

Khan now faces a combination of federal and state charges, the most serious of which is illegal possession of a machine gun under U.S. federal firearms law. This alone carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

State charges include:

  • Possession of a large-capacity magazine

  • Carrying a concealed deadly weapon

  • Resisting arrest

  • Additional firearms violations stemming from the equipment found in his home

Prosecutors have emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation. Without it, they say, an attack on the university’s police department could have happened before authorities recognized the warning signs.

The University of Delaware reiterated that no known immediate threat exists to students or faculty. Still, the administration acknowledged the gravity of the evidence and credited law enforcement with preventing a possible tragedy.

What We Know Now

The publicly confirmed facts include:

  • Khan was arrested after officers noticed suspicious behavior in a closed park

  • His vehicle contained loaded weapons, extended magazines, tactical armor, and a notebook referencing “kill all – martyrdom”

  • His home contained additional firearms, including weapons modified for automatic fire

  • The notebook included a layout of the University of Delaware Police Station and the name of at least one officer

  • Khan discussed martyrdom with investigators

  • He is banned from all university property as legal proceedings move forward

These details paint a clear picture of preparation, planning, and the potential for significant harm.

What Remains Unclear

Several critical questions remain:

  • What was the timeline of the planned attack?

  • Was Khan working alone, or are there individuals who influenced or assisted him?

  • Was there a specific ideology behind the references to martyrdom?

  • Did anyone in his life notice signs of radicalization or behavioral change?

  • Was the university or any officer aware of concerns related to Khan before the arrest?

Federal authorities have not commented on the possibility of additional arrests or further charges.

Impact on Campus Safety and National Awareness

This case has raised larger concerns about campus security infrastructure and early detection of threats. It also highlights:

  • The importance of routine police patrols

  • The growing use of illegal conversion devices that turn handguns into automatic weapons

  • The difficulty of predicting violent behavior in individuals without a criminal record

  • The rising national risk of targeted attacks against law enforcement officers

  • The need for stronger collaboration between federal, state, and campus police

University leaders acknowledged the emotional toll the case has taken and encouraged students to use counseling and support services.

What Happens Next

Khan remains in custody while awaiting federal court proceedings. More evidence may be released as the case progresses, and prosecutors will likely seek to build a detailed picture of his intentions, influences, and preparation timeline.

The public, meanwhile, is left with a haunting question: how close did this alleged plan come to unfolding?

Authorities believe their intervention came just in time. Whether more details will reveal a deeper network or a lone actor driven by personal ideology remains to be seen.

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