In a shocking revelation, federal authorities have apprehended a 55-year-old New York City resident, Michael Gann, accusing him of manufacturing and strategically placing a minimum of seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) across Manhattan.
The majority of these potential explosives were hidden on the rooftops of various apartment buildings, while one was alarmingly tossed onto the subway tracks of the historic Williamsburg Bridge.
This iconic bridge, once recognized as the world's longest suspension bridge, facilitates eight lanes of vehicular traffic, two tracks of the New York City subway system, and an upper deck for pedestrians and cyclists. It is no exaggeration to say that if Gann had been successful in detonating these IEDs, the resulting damage and potential loss of life could have been catastrophic.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized the severity of the situation in his statement, saying, "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 tracksputting countless lives at risk." He further added, "Thanks to swift work by our law enforcement partners, no one was harmed. That vigilance assuredly prevented a tragedy in New York.
According to RedState, Gann is believed to have constructed these devices using precursor chemicals such as potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder. One of the devices reportedly contained 30 grams of explosive powder, a quantity that surpasses the legal limits for consumer fireworks by a staggering 600 times. The IEDs were strategically concealed in high-risk locations, some even incorporating shotgun shells to enhance their lethal potential.
Gann now faces a slew of charges and potentially significant jail time, as per a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The charges include one count of attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, one count of transportation of explosive materials, and one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices. These charges carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The indictment also revealed a peculiar detail about Gann's activities. In late March, Gann reportedly posted a somewhat incoherent comment to President Trump, discussing the use of the National Guard and the construction of a wall. A review of the account associated with the post revealed a man consistently begging on the streets for money and struggling with his luck at casinos.
Gann's alleged profile image features a rainbow-colored communist fist, a message to "fight the power," and a picture celebrating Independence Day. The day before his arrest, Gann appears to have posted about it being "(another) day of 'Come out to play'" and expressing his frustration about being forced to sit on a sidewalk and "ask money of (people)" for years.
Just hours before his arrest, Gann, according to the indictment, posted a similar message on Instagram asking, "Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow? When authorities apprehended him, Gann was found in possession of another IED. As the case continues to unfold, further updates will be provided.
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