A New York man has been accused of creating at least seven homemade bombs and attempting to plant them around Manhattan. Authorities apprehended the alleged bomber after an IED was despicably left on the tracks of a subway.
The charges against Michael Gann, 55, were unveiled by US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton on Tuesday. Clayton revealed that Gann “built explosive devices, stored them on a rooftop in SoHo, and threw one onto the subway tracks – putting countless lives at risk.
“Thanks to swift work by our law enforcement partners, no one was harmed. That vigilance assuredly prevented a tragedy in New York.”
Clayton explained that Gann used “precursor chemicals” he purchased online to create the IEDs. The chemicals “can be combined to create an explosive mixture.”
He then allegedly stashed five of them and some shotgun shells on adjoining rooftops of residential SoHo apartment buildings before reportedly throwing at least one of the IEDs onto subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge.
Initial findings suggest that Gann ordered over 2 pounds of potassium perchlorate and about a pound of aluminium powder as well as over 200 cardboard tubes and over 50 feet of fuses, reports the Mirror US.
In early June, Gann is said to have received packages containing chemicals and other supplies, which he had ordered online, and combined them. He then allegedly ignited the mixture, causing an explosion, and subsequently constructed at least seven IEDs.
Five of these IEDs were reportedly discovered stashed on SoHo rooftops. Tests conducted on one of the devices revealed it contained approximately 30 grams of explosive powder – roughly 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks, according to the DOJ.
The shotgun shells, with at least four recovered, were allegedly bought by Gann for use in the explosive devices.
Gann was apprehended on June 5 in SoHo, with law enforcement allegedly finding an IED on him. Once detained, he is accused of lying to law enforcement, claiming he had discarded the explosives, shotgun shells and supplies in a Manhattan dumpster.
Authorities later found that Gann had been conducting internet searches related to explosives and firearms in the days and months leading up to his arrest, including, “will i pass a background check?”
On the day of his arrest, authorities claim Gann posted on his Instagram account, “Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?”
The 55-year-old, from Inwood, Manhattan, was ultimately charged with attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, transportation of explosive materials and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
The initial charge carries a compulsory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20. The subsequent two charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
“The safety of New Yorkers is paramount,” Clayton stated in the press release, praising the efforts of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, which investigated and apprehended Gann.