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Arizona man gets 8 years in prison on terrorism convictions

Posted at 12:21 PM, Nov 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-04 23:49:28-04

A Tucson man was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison for terrorism convictions that stemmed from what authorities said was a plot to attack a motor vehicle office in metro Phoenix.

Mahin Khan previously pleaded guilty to terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism and conspiracy to commit misconduct involving weapons.

Prosecutors say the 18 year-old wanted to attack a motor vehicle office in Mesa and instructed an undercover FBI employee to start building homemade grenades.

An attorney for Khan says his client has struggled with mental health issues and shown poor impulse control, but accepts responsibility for his actions.

Authorities say the FBI and Khan's parents took steps in the past to steer him away from his radical viewpoint but he kept making statements about wanting to attack targets.