Mahin Khan was arrested in Tucson on July 1, 2016 by agents from the FBI and agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force after he contacted a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization know as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, in an effort to conduct a “martyrdom operation” against Marines and Jews according to the Probable Cause statement.
Khan, age 18, of Tucson, is charged him with Terrorism, Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism, and Conspiracy to Commit Misconduct Involving Weapons. The charges stem from an investigation into Khan’s alleged repeated communication and conspiracy with an individual whom he believed to be a fighter with ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) to obtain weapons including pipe bombs or pressure cooker bombs, and commit an act of terror at a Motor Vehicle Division office in Maricopa County.
Khan was arrested in Tucson on July 1, 2016 by agents from the FBI and agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is being held without bond in the Maricopa County Jail pending trial on the indictment.
The Probable Cause statement reads in part [VIEW HERE]:
On or about April 16, 2016, MAHIN KHAN made telephone contact with [REDACTED] . During the conversation, KHAN asked if [REDACTED] had ever been to the Mission Bay, California area, believing [REDACTED] was located in California. KHAN told [REDACTED] , “that’s a pretty good target right there. There’s a lot of people there.” [REDACTED] asked KHAN if he had chosen a target closer to where he (KHAN) lived. KHAN asked [REDACTED] to supply him two (2) assault rifles and one (1) pistol. KHAN told [REDACTED] that he would send photographs and detailed information for his (KHAN) target and made mention to an Air Force recruitment center in Tucson.
During the same conversation, KHAN informed [REDACTED] that he had reached out to a TTP member asking for a pressure cooker bomb recipe. TTP, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.
On or about April 28, 2016, KHAN sent [REDACTED] a text message instructing [REDACTED] to access his (KHAN) e-mail account. While in the account, [REDACTED] the noticed several communications with [REDACTED]
Upon review of the e-mail communications in the account, the [REDACTED] noted several communications with Abid Manoor at [REDACTED] . On or about January 16, 2016, KHAN asked Mansoor, “Are u in TTP? Can u provide weapons?” On or about February 18, 2016, Mansoor responded, “Yes we can provide you any weapan who r u?” On or about February 22, 2016, KHAN responded, “American Jihadist who supports IS…”and “I’m a ISIL and TTP supporter looking to perform a MO ( likely referring to martyrdom operation). I am not a Murtad (apostate). I live in the US I’ll send you a pic. I am 17 u in Packistan. Need AK and pistols can u do that wanna take out marines and jews. No jok. I support hakimullah (referring to TTP Commander who died on or about November 1, 2013) u got trust me.” KHAN attached a photograph of himself wearing sunglasses.
On or about February 22, 2016, KHAN, while communicating with Mansoor, via e-mail, asked Mansoor if he was a “TTP fighter spokesman” and requested “cookie recipes” (likely referring to an improvised explosive device (IED) construction instructions). On or about February 24, 2016, Mansoor responded to KHAN’s February 22, 2016 e-mail questions. Mansoor asked KHAN what type of weapons KHAN wanted and who he intended to use them against. Mansoor also noted that weapons were not free and that KHAN would have to make arrangements to pay for them.
On or about February 27, 2016, KHAN responded to Mansoor’s February 24, 2016 message. KHAN responded, “Ak” (likely referring to AK 47 weapon) and then “Nevermind. Pressure cookie?” On March 16, 2016, Mansoor replied, “Yes avaialbel.” On March 26, 2016, KHAN wrote, “Send me pressure cookie revepir[.]” (likely referring to a pressure cooker improvised explosive device construction instructions).
Based on the above information, your Affiant believes probable cause exits that MAHIN KHAN [REDACTED] committed;
A.R.S. 13-2308.01 Terrorism-by preparing or planning for an act of terrorism by seeking assistance in obtaining weapons, a recipe for an improvised explosive device and identifying potential targets to commit a terrorist attack against.
A.R.S. 13-1003 Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism-by conspiring with to obtain two (2) assault rifles and one (1) pistol and identifying an Air Force recruitment center in Tucson as a potential target of a terrorist attack.
Earlier this week, the ADI reported that Khan was allegedly terrorizing other children in as early as the second grade. According to a former classmate, Khan threatened to shoot up the school in second grade. Even at that young age, Khan expressed desire to kill Jews, and fly an airplane into a skyscraper 9-11 style.
The classmate, who works as an intern on the James T. Harris radio show, said that because the school the two attended failed to have a plan to protect students from Khan, the intern’s parents removed him from the school.
Later, Khan attended Catalina Foothills High School, but opted to leave rather than face discipline for continuing anti-social behavior.
According to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is an alliance of militant networks formed in 2007 to unify opposition against the Pakistani military. TTP’s stated objectives are the expulsion of Islamabad’s influence in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan, the implementation of a strict interpretation of sharia throughout Pakistan, and the expulsion of Coalition troops from Afghanistan. TTP leaders also publicly say that the group seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in Pakistan that would require the overthrow of the Pakistani Government. TTP historically maintained close ties to senior al-Qa‘ida leaders, including al-Qa‘ida’s former head of operations for Pakistan.
Baitullah Mehsud, the first TTP leader, died on 5 August 2009, and his successor, Hakimullah Mehsud, died on 1 November 2013. TTP’s central shura in November 2013 appointed Mullah Fazlullah as the group’s overall leader. Fazlullah is staunchly anti-Western, anti-Islamabad, and advocates harsh tactics underscored by his ordering the November 2012 attempted assassination of education rights activist Malala Yousafzai. TTP since 2008 has repeatedly publicly threatened to attack the US homeland, and a TTP spokesman claimed responsibility for the failed vehicle-bomb attack in Times Square, New York City, on 1 May 2010. In June 2011, a spokesman vowed to attack the United States and Europe in revenge for the death of Usama Bin Ladin. A TTP leader in April 2012 endorsed external operations by the group and threatened attacks in the United Kingdom for its involvement in Afghanistan.
According to The Guardian, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is a “coalition of factions of Islamic militants that want to bring rigorous religious rule, resembling that established by their more famous namesakes in Afghanistan in the 1990s, to the unstable south Asian nation that is their home…. Over the last six or so years, a combination of drone strikes and military offensives has weakened the movement, killing successive commanders and forcing factions out of their bases…. the TTP has retained the capacity to do serious harm…”