A New York City man, Michael Gann, has asserted his innocence in the face of federal charges that he constructed and secreted explosive devices across the city. According to CBS News, Gann's arrangement on Friday left him with a not guilty plea to charges which include the alleged creation of no fewer than seven such hazardous devices using chemicals purchased online.
The indictment holds that Gann, 55, went as far to stockpile about five of these devices on apartment building rooftops in Manhattan's SoHo area and went to dangerously throw one onto the subway tracks of the Williamsburg Bridge between May and June. "Even a relatively small-looking device, in this case 600 times the explosive power of a firework, in close proximity of a subway car can be very damaging, even deadly," Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, told CBS News. Charges against him have been detailed to include three federal counts, among which is the attempted destruction of property by using explosives.
In a separate release shared by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, it's explained how Gann allegedly fabricated multiple improvised explosive devices ("IEDs") intended for the Manhattan area. He supposedly utilized precursor chemicals such as potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder, alongside other materials for constructing the explosive devices. Moreover, Gann is accused of having thrown a sixth device onto the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks and misled law enforcement about how he disposed of the explosives and supplies.
Reinforcing the weight of the situation, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, as stated in the release, underlined the severity of the threat, saying, "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." The joint forces of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and NYPD, were applauded for quickly bringing Gann into custody, potentially halting a disastrous outcome for the city’s residents. It also emerges that in the lead-up to his arrest, Gann had conducted online searches related to explosives and firearms, alluding to a grim interest in weaponry that extended beyond a mere pyrotechnic hobby, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Gann, currently facing a minimum of five years and possibly up to 20 years in prison for attempted destruction of property by explosive means, is also charged with the transportation of explosive materials and unlawful possession of destructive devices. His next court date is scheduled for August 13, where the legal proceedings will continue to unfold.
