Luqmaan Khan, 25 - Delaware Student arrested, had plans to carry out massive attack - school campus shooting

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University of Delaware student arrested with car full of guns, plans to carry out mass shooting — and chilling note about ‘martyrdom’

Chilling Campus Threat Foiled: University of Delaware Student Nabbed with Arsenal and Manifesto Vowing 'Martyrdom'

Newark, Delaware — December 3, 2025  In a heart-stopping discovery that has left the University of Delaware community reeling, authorities have arrested a 25-year-old student accused of plotting a devastating mass attack on campus, complete with a cache of illegal firearms, body armor, and a handwritten manifesto laced with references to "martyrdom." The November 24 traffic stop in Wilmington, which began as a routine after-hours park check, unraveled what federal prosecutors are calling a "grave threat" neutralized just in time to avert tragedy.

Luqmaan Khan, a Wilmington resident and undergraduate at the University of Delaware, was pulled over by New Castle County Police Department officers in Canby Park West around midnight. What started as a simple order to exit his Toyota Tacoma escalated quickly when Khan resisted, forcing officers to take him into custody. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a chilling arsenal: a loaded .357 caliber Glock handgun outfitted with a microplastic conversion brace kit—effectively transforming it into a makeshift sub-machine gun—along with four loaded 27-round extended magazines, a separate loaded 9mm Glock magazine, an armored ballistic plate, binoculars, and a laptop.

But it was the unassuming marble composition notebook that truly horrified investigators. Inside were meticulous handwritten notes on "warfare techniques," strategies to evade law enforcement detection, and detailed assault plans targeting the University of Delaware Police Department (UDPD). One page featured a hand-drawn layout of the UDPD station on Academy Street, complete with entry and exit points marked and annotated for ease of attack—some doors labeled "easy," others "hard." The notebook singled out a specific UDPD officer by name, contemplating ambushes "up close" or in a vehicle, and included lists of shooting ranges alongside evaluations of additional weapons' performance.

Most alarmingly, the writings were steeped in violent ideology. One section boldly declared "battle efficiency: kill all – martyrdom," with the concept of martyrdom invoked repeatedly as a noble pursuit. During a post-arrest interview, Khan reportedly told detectives that achieving martyrdom was "one of the greatest things you can do" and a personal goal of his. A federal search of Khan's South Van Buren Street home later uncovered even more firepower: a Glock 19 Gen 5 handgun with an illegal "switch" device—classifying it as a machine gun—a scoped rifle with a red dot sight, 10 extended magazines, and a stockpile of hollow-point bullets.

Khan now faces a litany of federal and state charges, including possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware hailed the arrest as a triumph of inter-agency collaboration. "This case is a quintessential example of federal and state law enforcement collaborating to neutralize a grave threat to Delaware before the worst could come to pass," Acting U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss stated in a release. The FBI and New Castle County Police were credited for their swift action, with the bureau noting the notebook's contents pointed to "premeditated assault plans."

The University of Delaware, home to over 24,000 students, moved quickly to reassure its community. Interim President Laura Carlson issued a statement acknowledging the "frightening" nature of the incident while emphasizing there are "no known or immediate threats" to campus. Khan has been banned from university property pending the investigation's conclusion. Freshman Charlotte Ward, speaking to local reporters, captured the widespread shock: "I've always felt very safe on this campus, so obviously hearing anything like that is obviously gonna be shocking."

As details emerge about Khan—a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Pakistan—the case has sparked broader conversations about campus safety, mental health resources for students, and the radicalization that can fester undetected. Investigators continue to probe potential motives, with the notebook's jihadist undertones drawing particular scrutiny. For now, though, the Blue Hens can breathe a collective sigh of relief: What could have been a headline of unimaginable horror is instead one of vigilance rewarded.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Khan held without bail. Updates will follow as more information becomes available. 17GEN4