On September 12, 2025, a tense scene unfolded in Salt Lake City, Utah, when an incendiary device was discovered underneath a FOX 13 News vehicle parked near an occupied building. The device, which had been lit, thankfully failed to function as intended. But the potential for disaster was real and immediate, prompting a swift response from local police and fire department bomb squads, according to CBS News and FOX 13.
The incident came at a time of heightened media attention in Salt Lake City. News outlets had descended on the city to cover the recent assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, which had already put the community on edge. The placement of a bomb under a news vehicle—specifically one belonging to FOX 13, as confirmed by the station—escalated concerns about the safety of journalists and the public alike.
Authorities wasted no time. The Salt Lake City Police Bomb Squad and the Unified Fire Authority Arson/Bomb Squad responded to the scene. Investigators quickly determined the device was real and had been intended to ignite, but for reasons still under investigation, it did not detonate. As FOX 13 reported, the gravity of the situation was clear: the device's placement next to an occupied building constituted a significant threat to public safety, with the risk of mass casualties if it had gone off.
Given the seriousness of the threat, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assumed jurisdiction. According to ABC4 Utah and FOX News Digital, agents worked rapidly to identify suspects. Their investigation led them to a residence in Magna, Utah, on the 2700 South block of 8500 West—a home both suspects were said to share.
On September 13, 2025, the day after the failed bombing, the FBI, along with local bomb squads, served a federal search warrant at the Magna residence. The operation was anything but routine. Neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution, and bomb technicians from the Unified Fire Authority were on hand to ensure the area was safe. Inside, authorities found a trove of alarming items: two hoax weapons of mass destruction, two firearms, bomb-making equipment, illegal narcotics, and other paraphernalia, as detailed in court documents obtained by CBS News and FOX 13.
Both suspects, identified as Adeeb Nasir, 58, and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir, 31, were arrested at the scene and booked into Salt Lake County Jail. They face a litany of serious charges: threat of terrorism, possession of weapons of mass destruction, possession of explosive devices, and attempted aggravated arson, among others. According to ABC4, both men are being held without bail, and charges are expected to be formally filed in the coming week. As with all criminal cases, the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
During the search, investigators also discovered that both men had protective orders against them due to histories of illicit drug use, which legally barred them from possessing firearms. Yet, firearms and related items were found in the home, compounding the charges and raising further questions about how the suspects acquired these weapons. The presence of illegal narcotics added another layer of criminality to the case.
The discovery of the hoax weapons of mass destruction—devices designed to appear legitimate but containing no harmful substances—prompted additional concern. Both suspects reportedly told police the devices were real, leading to the evacuation of their home and nearby residences. As stated in the arrest documents cited by ABC4, “The initial FBI search warrant authorized the seizure of evidence specifically related to the incendiary devices. However, during the course of executing that warrant, law enforcement personnel observed additional contraband and evidence of crimes outside the scope of the original warrant, to include firearms and firearm-related items, explosives and explosive-related components, illegal narcotics and associated paraphernalia, as well as electronic devices reasonably believed to contain evidence of the above-described crimes.”
FOX 13 News, the direct target of the attempted bombing, issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to employee safety. Station Manager Leona Wood said, “FOX 13 News is working closely with law-enforcement and our risk management team, with the safety of our employees as our top priority.” The news organization continues to cooperate with authorities as the investigation unfolds.
Despite the dramatic events, authorities have remained tight-lipped about the possible motive behind the attack. The relationship between the two suspects, though they shared a residence, has not been disclosed. As reported by the Washington Post and CBS News, it remains unclear whether the attack was intended as an act of intimidation against the media in the wake of high-profile political violence, or if other factors were at play. Investigators are still working to determine the full scope and intent of the suspects’ actions.
The incident has rattled both the local community and the broader media landscape. The failed bombing occurred just as Salt Lake City was grappling with the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Tyler Robinson, which had already brought an unusual level of attention and tension to the area. The confluence of these events has underscored the risks faced by journalists and the public in volatile times.
Law enforcement officials have praised the quick thinking and professionalism of the bomb squads and investigators who responded to the scene. Their actions, officials said, likely prevented a much more tragic outcome. As Unified Fire Authority Investigations officer Jeffrey David Nelson wrote in the affidavit, “Due to the nature of the device and its placement, this incident constituted a significant threat to public safety,” adding that there was a real risk of mass casualties.
As the FBI continues to lead the investigation, the community remains on alert. The presence of additional contraband and the suspects’ apparent willingness to claim hoax devices as real have raised fears about what might have happened if the incendiary device had worked as intended. For now, the suspects remain in custody, and authorities are urging anyone with further information to come forward.
Amid the uncertainty, one thing is clear: the quick actions of first responders and investigators averted a potential tragedy in Salt Lake City. As the story develops, many are left asking how such a dangerous plot could come so close to succeeding—and what can be done to prevent similar threats in the future.
