Authorities in the United States have thwarted a potential mass shooting after arresting a 25-year-old student from the University of Delaware. The suspect, identified as Luqmaan Khan, was taken into custody after police discovered loaded ammunition and chilling written plans for an attack that specifically named a campus police officer as a target.
Midnight Suspicion Leads to Major Discovery
The incident unfolded on November 24 in Wilmington. Officers from the New Castle County Police Department spotted Khan in his pickup truck at Canby Park West just before midnight. His behaviour raised suspicions, leading them to investigate further. The police initially stopped him for parking illegally, but the encounter took a serious turn when Khan appeared nervous and uncooperative.
This prompted a search of his vehicle, where law enforcement made the first alarming finds. They discovered four loaded 27-round ammunition magazines. More disturbingly, they found a notebook containing what authorities later described as detailed plans for an assault.
Notebook Reveals Chilling "Martyrdom" Plans and Tactics
The contents of the notebook left little doubt about Khan's alleged intentions. According to the police complaint, it contained combat tactics for various weapons and a drawing of the University of Delaware Police Department building. The notes included a drawn map of the police headquarters, with intended entry and exit routes clearly marked.
Police reports state the notebook featured repeated phrases like "kill all – martyrdom". It outlined methods for avoiding capture after a shooting and described how several weapons would be used. Investigators characterised these writings as "premeditated assault plans" and clear "warfare techniques". Khan allegedly told the police that becoming a martyr was "one of the greatest things you can do".
Weapons Cache Found in Home Search
Following the arrest, a subsequent search of Khan's residence uncovered an even more extensive arsenal. Police recovered:
- A scoped rifle.
- Body armor.
- A .357 handgun that had been illegally altered with a machine gun conversion device, known as a "switch".
During the initial vehicle search, police had also found a weapon and a firearm brace kit. Khan, a Wilmington resident with no prior arrest record, has been in federal custody since November 24.
Authorities Hail Police Action, Motive Unclear
The swift action by the patrol officers has been widely praised. Jimmy Paul, the FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Baltimore office, commended the New Castle County Police, stating their "exceptional actions led to Khan's arrest before anyone was harmed." The New Castle County Police also announced on social media platform X that their officers had "stopped a potential threat targeting the University of Delaware police."
While the exact motive behind the alleged planned attack remains under investigation, the evidence points to a narrowly averted tragedy. Khan is scheduled for a detention hearing on December 11. His federal public defender, Eleni Kousoulis, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
