BOISE - A Uzbekistan national was arrested Thursday morning in Boise, Idaho, on federal terrorism charges in both Utah and Idaho.
30-year-old Fazliddin Kurbanov was arrested as part of a federal terrorism investigation. He is a U.S. citizen and was living in Boise at the time of his arrest, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Idaho.
The arrest comes after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Salt Lake City Division, which covers Utah and Idaho, and Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Idaho and Utah, the press release said.
"This has been a joint operation and there has been great collaboration and cooperation across state lines and district lines and with our partners in Washington, DC," said U.S. Attorney for Utah David Barlow.
In Utah, Kurbanov faces one count of distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.
"That he showed videos on the Internet regarding explosive devices and related materials and that he even was involved in shopping trips that were intended to instruct how one might find and use the components of an IED," Barlow said.
In Idaho, Kurbanov faces one count each of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
Kurbanov allegedly knowingly provided material support and resources to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and that that support would be used in preparation for and carrying out an offense involving the use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Kurbanov also allegedly possessed a destructive device or parts intended to be used for a destructive device. According to the press release, those parts are a hollowed hand grenade, hobby fuse, aluminum powder, potassium nitrate and sulfur.
If convicted in Idaho, Kurbanov faces up to 15 years in prison on each of the conspiracy counts and up to 10 years in prison for the charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device.
If convicted in Utah, Kurbanov faces up to 20 years in prison.
Kurbanov's activities were monitored by federal agents during the investigation and any potential threat has been contained.
He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Boise on Friday. He will be transferred to Utah at the conclusion of the prosecution in Idaho.
