Latest news with #MichaelGann
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
NYC man accused of hiding explosive devices on rooftops pleads not guilty
A New York City man accused of building explosive devices and then hiding them of rooftops around the city pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. Michael Gann was arraigned Friday morning after authorities charged him with allegedly making at least seven explosive devices with chemicals he ordered and instructions he found on the internet. Investigators said Gann, 55, stored approximately five devices on rooftops of apartment buildings in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood and tossed one onto the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks between May and June. The indictment revealed investigators found 30 grams of explosive powder, which is more than 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks. "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, said at the time. Gann was charged with three federal counts, including attempted destruction of property by means of explosives. According to the indictment, he told law enforcement he was trying to make pyrotechnics and learned how to online. Prosecutors said Gann set off an explosive on June 5 near the East River and the FDR Drive. The indictment said he told investigators he was frightened after that and started considering how to get rid of the devices, either by throwing them into the East River or handing them over to the FDNY. He allegedly threw two devices into the river from the Williamsburg Bridge. Gann's next court date is August 13. He has 30 prior arrests and three felony convictions.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Who is Michael Gann? Man accused of plotting to set off homemade bombs he had stashed across NYC
A New York man has been indicted after plotting to set off homemade explosives he had stashed at sites across New York City, prosecutors have revealed. 55-year-old Michael Gann built at least seven improvised explosive devices last month, using chemicals he bought online in May. He then took the bombs to Manhattan, according to an indictment, ABC News reported. Who is Michael Gann? Man accused of plotting to set off homemade bombs he had stashed across NYC (Unsplash - representational image) Who is Michael Gann and what is he accused of? Gann is from Long Island, and has been accused of storing some of the devices on the rooftops of adjoining residential buildings. He allegedly also threw another onto the subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge, according to prosecutors. Thankfully, the devices did not injure anyone. Gann was arrested near the buildings in June. Authorities said that at the time of his arrest, he had one of the devices in his possession. According to the indictment, public court filings and a complaint, 'In or about May 2025, GANN ordered approximately two pounds of potassium perchlorate and approximately one pound of aluminum powder—precursor chemicals—online, along with over 200 cardboard tubes and over 50-feet worth of fuses. In or about early June 2025, GANN received his packages containing the precursor chemicals and other supplies, mixed the precursor chemicals together, applied a flame to the mixture, and caused an explosion. GANN subsequently assembled at least seven IEDs using the precursor chemicals, cardboard tubes, and fuses.' It added, 'GANN stored the precursor chemicals and at least five IEDs, pictured below, on the rooftops of residential apartment buildings in SoHo. The pictured black device contained approximately 30 grams of explosive powder—approximately 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks.' Gann even went on to store four shotgun shells on the same rooftops, which he had decided to combine with one or more of the IEDs. He has been accused of throwing a sixth IED onto the subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge. Michael Gann accused of 'putting countless lives at risk' In a statement, Jay Clayton, the interim US attorney for the Southern District of New York, accused Gann of putting 'countless lives at risk.' 'The safety of New Yorkers is paramount,' said Clayton, according to the United States Attorney's Office. '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. Thanks to swift work by our law enforcement partners, no one was harmed. That vigilance assuredly prevented a tragedy in New York.' Gann has been charged with attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, transportation of explosive materials, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. Should he be convicted on all counts, he could face up to 40 years in prison. After a bail hearing, a judge ordered that Gann be detained. Gann's lawyer, Martin Cohen, has yet to comment on the matter. 'Michael Gann allegedly produced multiple improvised explosive devices intended for use in Manhattan,' said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. 'Due to the successful partnership of law enforcement agencies in New York, Gann was swiftly brought to justice before he could harm innocent civilians shortly after his dangerous actions became known. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is enduring in its commitment and determination to protect the homeland.' NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch also commented on the incident, saying, 'This defendant allegedly stockpiled homemade explosives and traveled to New York City with these deadly devices. He threw one of these devices onto an active subway track and stored others on the rooftop of a residential building, but because of the skilled investigative work and swift response from the NYPD and our partners, we were able to intervene before he caused any harm. I am grateful to the members of the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for all the work they do every day to keep New Yorkers safe.'
NBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Helped by AI, man built bombs he planned to detonate in Manhattan, officials say
Federal prosecutors indicted a 55-year-old Long Island, New York, man Tuesday, alleging he built seven homemade bombs with the help of artificial intelligence, a process he called 'easier than buying gun powder,' according to court documents. The man, Michael Gann, transported the bombs from Long Island to New York City and stored five of them and four shotgun shells on an apartment building rooftop in the SoHo neighborhood, officials said. He intended to combine the shotgun shells with one or more of the improvised explosive devices, they said. On March 27, Gann posted a message to President Donald Trump's official X account, the indictment said. 'Dear @POTUS, I'm thinking just now here in NYC that it's too bad that the wall wasn't built before the National Guard would have to come here for the Protests and Riotation," he was said to have written. "Or would you just drop a bomb on this place while and because they seem to be coming and coming?' Five weeks later, Gann was arrested after he posted on Instagram, "Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?" according to authorities. Gann has not yet entered a plea, and his attorney declined to comment. Ordering online Gann told law enforcement officials that he used two household compounds that he ordered online to make the improvised explosives, according to court documents. He also purchased over 200 cardboard tubes and more than 50 feet of fuses. One of the devices he built had roughly 30 grams of explosive powder — about 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks. Officials said he appeared to have acted alone was not acting as part of a group. "Gann allegedly produced multiple improvised explosive devices intended for use in Manhattan,' said Christopher Raia, the head of the FBI's New York field office. 'Due to the successful partnership of law enforcement agencies in New York, Gann was swiftly brought to justice before he could harm innocent civilians." One of the witnesses, a U.S. military veteran, told the FBI that as Gann was mixing the explosives in Inwood, New York, a town in Long Island, he said, 'what kind of veteran are you? You see a problem going on in the neighborhood and you do nothing about it.' 'Gann then pointed to a Jewish school,' according to a criminal complaint that was filed at the time of his arrest. A second witness agreed to make phone calls to Gann while the FBI listened in, according to the criminal complaint. Gann told the witness in one call that 'he had lit one of the devices near the East River on the FDR Drive; that the device had exploded, scaring Gann,' it says. Gann then said, according to the witness, that he was considering disposing of the remaining five devices by throwing them into the river or turning them in to the New York City Fire Department. On June 5, the day of the alleged call, law enforcement agents saw Gann walking down the street carrying a shoulder bag, according to the complaint. When the agents identified themselves to Gann, he told them he was on his way to the fire department to drop the devices off, it says. After being read his rights, Gann told law enforcement officials that he 'wished to make pyrotechnics and used artificial intelligence to learn which chemicals to purchase and mix,' the complaint says. It says Gann created four devices initially and threw three from the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge. Two devices fell into the water, and one fell on the train tracks and was recovered near there. "Gann built explosive devices, stored them on a rooftop in SoHo," interim U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said, 'and threw one onto the subway tracks — putting countless lives at risk.'
Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Man built and stashed homemade bombs throughout New York City, prosecutors say
NEW YORK: A New York man accused of plotting to set off homemade explosives he had stashed at sites across Manhattan has been indicted, federal prosecutors said. Michael Gann, 55, built at least seven improvised explosive devices last month with chemicals he bought online in May and took the bombs to Manhattan, according to an indictment handed up Tuesday by a grand jury. Gann, of Long Island, stored some on the devices on the rooftops of adjoining residential buildings and threw another onto the subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge, prosecutors said. No one was injured by any of the devices. Gann was arrested in early June near the buildings, and authorities said he he had one of the devices in his possession. Gann put 'countless lives at risk,' Jay Clayton, the interim US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. Gann is charged with attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, transportation of explosive materials, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. He could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts. A judge ordered Gann detained following a bail hearing. His lawyer, Martin Cohen, declined comment Wednesday.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Man Arrested on Accusation of Making Explosive Devices and Placing Them Around New York City - Including on a Subway Track
A Long Island man was arrested last month and charged in connection with attempting to blow up several homemade explosives around Manhattan, federal prosecutors announced this week. Authorities said Michael Gann was taken into custody after he had allegedly already placed one of the explosives on a subway track on the Williamsburg Bridge on June 5, 2025. According to the Justice Department, the 55-year-old man had placed the explosive on the tracks before placing five more explosive devices and a handful of shotgun shells on the rooftop of a residential building in the SoHo neighborhood. It's unclear how law enforcement became aware of Gann's alleged activity on June 5. A federal indictment included in the news release showed at least one security camera image of Gann holding a bag and appearing to walk on the rooftop where authorities allege he placed five of the explosives. About a month earlier, in May, the Justice Department alleges that Gann ordered about two pounds of potassium perchlorate and another pound of aluminum powder, along with more than 200 cardboard tubes and 50 feet worth of fuses. Using these items, Gann allegedly created at least seven explosive devices. The Justice Department alleges that in one of the devices Gann created, there was 'approximately 30 grams of explosive powder — approximately 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks.' When Gann was arrested, officers found a seventh explosive device on his person. He allegedly then falsely told police officers he had thrown the rest of the explosive devices away in a dumpster elsewhere in Manhattan. The suspect's internet history over the two months leading up to his arrest included at least a dozen searches about procuring a gun or the ingredients to make explosive devices, according to federal authorities. Authorities also allege that on the morning before he tossed the first explosive on the New York City subway track, Gann took to Instagram and cryptically wrote: 'Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?' Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Gann has been charged with one count of attempted destruction of property with an explosive, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20. He was also charged with transporting explosive materials, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, as well as a charge for unlawful possession of destructive devices, which also carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 'The safety of New Yorkers is paramount,' U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement, crediting 'swift work' by law enforcement to stop Gann before he could cause any damage. PEOPLE reached out to an attorney who is representing Gann but did not immediately receive a response on Wednesday. Read the original article on People
