A troubling case has emerged from New York, where a 55-year-old man is accused of employing artificial intelligence to aid in the construction of explosive devices intended for detonation in Manhattan.
Michael Gann, hailing from Long Island, faces serious allegations of crafting homemade bombs, a task he reportedly described as "easier than buying gun powder," according to court documents cited by NBC News.
As reported by Breitbart, federal prosecutors indicted Gann on Tuesday, accusing him of transporting these dangerous devices from Long Island to Manhattan. The bombs, along with four shotgun shells, were allegedly stored on the rooftop of an apartment building in the SoHo neighborhood.
The court documents further suggest that Gann planned to combine the shotgun shells with one or more of the bombs, using two household compounds he had ordered online to create the improvised explosives.
One of the devices Gann allegedly constructed contained approximately 30 grams of explosive powder, a quantity that starkly exceeds the legal limit for consumer fireworks by about 600 times. A military veteran, who served as a witness, reportedly recounted to the FBI a conversation with Gann, in which the suspect questioned, What kind of veteran are you? and criticized the witness for inaction, pointing towards a Jewish school during the exchange.
On June 5, a second witness facilitated an FBI-monitored call with Gann, during which he allegedly confessed to detonating one of the devices near the East River on the FDR Drive, an explosion that reportedly startled him. Later that day, authorities observed Gann walking with a shoulder bag. Upon being approached by agents, he claimed he was en route to the fire department to surrender the devices.
The witnesses also informed law enforcement that Gann contemplated disposing of the remaining bombs by either discarding them into the river or surrendering them to the New York City Fire Department. Following his arrest, Gann allegedly expressed a desire to create pyrotechnics and admitted to using artificial intelligence to identify the necessary chemicals for his explosive concoctions.
Gann is accused of initially fabricating four bombs, with three being thrown from the Williamsburg Bridge. Two of these devices reportedly ended up in the water, while the third was recovered from the train tracks. Christopher Raia, head of the FBIs New York field office, stated, Gann allegedly produced multiple improvised explosive devices intended for use in Manhattan. Due to the successful partnership of law enforcement agencies in New York, Gann was swiftly brought to justice before he could harm innocent civilians.
Authorities have indicated that Gann appeared to be acting independently, with no affiliations to any group. This case underscores the potential dangers posed by the misuse of technology and the critical role of vigilant law enforcement in safeguarding public safety.
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