On the morning of Friday, September 12, 2025, what started as a routine day for Salt Lake City’s Fox 13 News quickly turned into a scene from a crime drama. Employees discovered a suspicious device under one of the station’s news vehicles, parked next to an occupied building in the heart of the city. The device, described by authorities as an incendiary device, had been lit but, fortunately, failed to function as designed. But even in its failure, the device posed a significant threat to public safety, prompting a swift and coordinated response from local bomb squads and federal authorities.
According to the New York Times, bomb squads from the Salt Lake City Police Department and Unified Fire Authority arrived on the scene and confirmed the device was real. The area was quickly secured, and investigators began piecing together what had happened and, more importantly, who was responsible. The news vehicle belonged to KSTU, known locally as Fox 13 News, a station affiliated with the Fox network but not directly tied to the national Fox News Channel.
Authorities wasted no time. By Sunday, September 14, two men from Magna, Utah—Adeeb Nasir, 58, and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir, 31—were arrested on suspicion of placing the device. Both men were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and ordered held without bail. The relationship between the two has not been officially disclosed, but court documents and local reporting consistently identify them as sharing a residence in Magna, a suburb about 14 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
The charges against the Nasirs are both severe and numerous. They face nine counts, including two counts each of weapon of mass destruction and threat of terrorism, as well as attempted aggravated arson, possessing explosive devices, and possessing weapons of mass destruction. The legal stakes are high, and authorities have emphasized the seriousness of the incident due to the device’s proximity to an occupied building. As one probable cause affidavit put it, “Due to the nature of the device and its placement, this incident constituted a significant threat to public safety.”
The investigation quickly escalated to the federal level. The FBI assumed primary jurisdiction and, on Saturday, September 13, served a federal search warrant at the suspects’ Magna residence. Local bomb squads assisted, and the operation forced the evacuation of nearby homes—a precaution necessitated by the potential danger posed by additional explosives. The search yielded a trove of evidence: two hoax weapons of mass destruction, two firearms, illegal narcotics, and various explosive-related components. According to court documents cited by ABC News and CBS News, the men initially told investigators the devices were real, which triggered the neighborhood evacuation.
During the search, the FBI discovered what it described as “potentially hazardous materials that could pose a threat to public safety.” The presence of firearms was particularly notable, as both men had previously been prohibited from possessing weapons due to narcotics use. The discovery of illegal drugs further complicated their legal situation. The full scope of the evidence, including the precise nature of the explosive components, remains under wraps, as court documents related to the case have been sealed.
Fox 13 News confirmed that its vehicle was the target. In a statement provided to ABC News and other outlets, 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 station, owned by Scripps, is one of many local and national media outlets to have increased security measures in the wake of recent violence targeting journalists and public figures.
The timing of the incident added an extra layer of tension. Just two days earlier, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, roughly 44 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The suspect in that case, Tyler Robinson, was quickly apprehended, but the shockwaves from the event were still being felt across the state. According to CNN affiliate KUTV, both national and local media outlets had stepped up security efforts following Kirk’s assassination, and the discovery of the incendiary device under a news vehicle only heightened concerns.
Photos and videos from the Magna residence, as reported by KUTV, showed anti-Trump signs displayed outside the home. While this detail fueled speculation about possible political motives, authorities have not released any information regarding why the device was placed under the Fox 13 News vehicle. The mother of Adil Nasir, who also identified herself as the ex-wife of Adeeb Nasir, told The New York Times that she believed her son was wrongly accused, describing him as a “vocal opponent of the Trump administration” who “could not even hurt a bird.” She added that the family had hired a lawyer, though she did not know the attorney’s name.
Despite the speculation and the charged political climate, the FBI and local law enforcement have maintained a tight lid on the investigation. “We do not have information from law enforcement about motive,” Fox 13 News reiterated in a statement on Monday, September 15. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told the press, “We will follow our normal screening protocol in evaluating all the material when presented.” The FBI, for its part, has declined to comment further, citing the sealed nature of the case documents.
The incident has raised broader questions about the safety of journalists and the increasing risks faced by media organizations in a polarized environment. The fact that the device was found just days after a high-profile political assassination has only intensified public scrutiny. While no one was injured in the Fox 13 News incident, the potential for harm was very real. As Kelly Bird, a spokesman for the Unified Fire Authority, explained, the device “is basically something that has the potential to become flammable.” The fact that it failed to function as designed may have prevented a far more tragic outcome.
For now, Adeeb Nasir and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir remain in custody, facing a long list of felony charges. The investigation continues, with the FBI leading efforts to determine both how and why the device ended up under a news vehicle in Salt Lake City. The community, meanwhile, is left grappling with the uneasy reality that such threats can—and do—emerge close to home, even when they fail to achieve their intended effect.
