State prosecutors have dropped felony charges against two Magna men who were arrested in September while police investigated an explosive device placed under a Utah news outlet’s vehicle. The case, however, is not completely closed and could be revisited.
According to court records, charges against Adeeb Nasir and Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir have been dismissed, but the dismissal was entered without prejudice, which means prosecutors can refile the case in the future if new evidence supports it.
How The Case Began
On Sept. 12, bomb squads from Salt Lake police and Unified Fire responded after an explosive device was found under a KSTU news vehicle in Salt Lake City. The next day, on Sept. 13, investigators executed a federal search warrant at the Nasirs’ Magna home.
Inside, they reported finding dynamite, firearms and marijuana. A bomb technician later determined that the dynamite sticks were “inert,” leading to state charges that the men possessed hoax explosives rather than live devices.
On Sept. 22, the two men were each charged in 3rd District Court with:
- Two counts of manufacturing, using or possessing a hoax weapon of mass destruction
- Related weapons and drug allegations based on items found in the home
The charges focused solely on what was allegedly located inside the residence and did not link the Nasirs directly to the device under the news vehicle.
Why The Charges Were Dismissed
During a preliminary hearing on Nov. 25, prosecutors from the office of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill asked the judge for more time, saying they were still waiting on key reports, warrants and discovery material from federal investigators, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Instead of granting a delay, the judge denied the request and dismissed the case without prejudice. In a public statement, Sim Gill explained that his office still considers the matter part of a broader investigation but must respect the court’s decision while the federal probe continues.
As of Dec. 3, no federal indictments have been filed against either Adeeb Nasir or Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir.
Separate Federal Case Targets Different Suspect
Less than a month after the Nasirs were arrested, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against a different man, Christopher Solomon Proctor, in connection with the device placed under the news SUV.
Prosecutors say that around 4:15 a.m. on Sept. 12, an incendiary device was shoved under a KSTU vehicle in a station parking area. The federal complaint describes it as a 2.5-gallon gas can with a long lit fuse attached. The fuse burned out before reaching the can, so the device never exploded.
Proctor, 45, has been charged with:
- Attempted arson in interstate commerce
- Possession of an unregistered destructive device
A federal judge ordered Proctor to remain in custody while his case moves forward. That case is separate from the Nasirs’ now-dismissed state charges and directly ties Proctor to the news vehicle incident.
What Comes Next
Because the Nasirs’ charges were dismissed without prejudice, state prosecutors still have the option to refile if pending reports or new evidence justify it. For now, there is:
- No active state case against Adeeb or Adil Justice Ahmed Nasir
- No federal indictment naming either of them
- An ongoing federal prosecution focused solely on Christopher Solomon Proctor
The investigation into how and why the device appeared under a Utah news vehicle continues at the federal level, while state authorities watch for any developments that might affect future charging decisions.
