Arrest Made in Alleged Plot Targeting University of Delaware Police

Authorities have apprehended a University of Delaware student following an alleged scheme directed at the university’s police department. Luqman Khan, 25, from Wilmington, was detained during a traffic stop on Monday, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.

Police reports indicate that officers from the New Castle County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of Khan’s vehicle, uncovering a loaded .357-caliber Glock handgun containing 27 rounds, along with a microplastic kit designed for firearms. Additional items included three 27-round magazines, an armored ballistic plate, and a notebook filled with handwritten notes.

According to the prosecutor, the notes contained discussions about other weapons, plans for their utilization in an attack, and strategies for evading law enforcement post-incident. There were also references to University of Delaware police officers, and a layout of the police building was included in the notebook, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

Khan faces federal charges of illegal possession of a machine gun, which carries a potential sentence of up to ten years. The interim president of the University of Delaware, Laura Carlson, confirmed that Khan was an undergraduate student at the time of his arrest.

“We have taken measures to temporarily isolate affected students from campus life until legal proceedings are settled. Our collaboration with law enforcement has been continuous, and we’re now authorized to share this urgent information,” Carlson reiterated. Despite the alarming nature of the plot, she assured that there is currently “no imminent threat” to the university community.

On the day of his arrest, Khan reportedly resisted police commands during the traffic stop, which ultimately led to his detention. Following his arrest, an FBI search at his home resulted in the seizure of additional weapons, including a Glock 19 handgun modified with a machine gun conversion device, a .556 rifle, and various ammunition and tactical gear.

The New Castle County Police Department has confirmed that Khan is facing multiple state charges as well, including felony possession of a high-capacity magazine and carrying a concealed weapon, along with a misdemeanor for resisting arrest. Acting U.S. Attorney Murray praised the collaboration between federal and state entities in addressing this serious threat before it escalated further.