Federal agents: Tucson terrorist plotted to attack Jewish community center
Jul 19, 2016, 3:38 PM
PHOENIX — The Tucson man charged with plotting a terrorist attack on a Phoenix motor vehicle department also admitted to originally wanting to target a Jewish community center, according to federal agents on Tuesday.
Agent Benjamin Trentlage testified that Mahin Khan, 18, eventually focused on plans to attack a motor vehicle office in Mesa and instructed the undercover employee to start building explosives.
Trentlage said Khan revealed his desire to attack the Jewish community center in a 2015 exchange with an undercover FBI employee.
During the exchange, Khan referred to an earlier attack on a military reserve center in Tennessee.
Khan was arrested July 1 and has pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges.
The Maricopa Superior Court will not allow Khan’s family to be filmed in the courtroom.
Judge Sam Myers has ruled that the family members of Mahin Atif Khan NOT to be filmed in the courtroom.
— MC Superior Court (@courtpio) July 19, 2016
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
