A New York man was indicted on Tuesday, accused by federal prosecutors of building and placing homemade improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at two apartment buildings and on the Williamsburg Bridge subway track.
Michael Gann, 55, is accused of assembling a total of seven IEDs using the precursor chemicals, cardboard tubes and fuses in June. One of the devices contained approximately 30 grams of explosive powder, which amounts to 600 times the legal limit for fireworks, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a press release.
Prosecutors also said Gann stored at least four shotgun shells on the residential rooftops in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, which he intended to combine with one or more of the IEDs. The release made no mention of motive.
Gann faces charges of attempted destruction of property by means of explosives; transportation of explosive materials and unlawful possession of destructive devices, the release states.
“The safety of New Yorkers is paramount. As alleged, Michael Gann built explosive devices, stored them on a rooftop in SoHo, and threw one onto the subway tracks — putting countless lives at risk,” United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton said in a statement.
“Thanks to swift work by our law enforcement partners, no one was harmed. That vigilance assuredly prevented a tragedy in New York,” he added.
FBI Director Kash Patel lauded the work undertaken by the New York Field Office.
“The FBI’s mission is clear: protect Americans before harm is done. Proud of our agents, @NewYorkFBI and our partners in New York for dismantling this IED plot and protecting innocent lives,” Patel wrote in a Tuesday statement on X.
“Anyone who threatens Americans with terror will be hunted down and brought to justice,” he added.
