NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Authorities on Tuesday announced charges against a Long Island man for manufacturing and possessing at least seven improvised explosive devices using chemicals he bought online—including one IED that he allegedly tossed onto the Williamsburg Bridge.
Michael Gann, 55, of Inwood, New York, is charged with one count of attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, U.S. prosecutors said.
According to a criminal complaint, in or about May, 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.
Gann received the packages containing the chemicals and other supplies around early June, then mixed the precursor chemicals together, applied a flame to the mixture, and caused an explosion, the feds allege.
He then allegedly assembled at least seven IEDs using the precursor chemicals, cardboard tubes, and fuses.
Gann also stored at least four shotgun shells on the same rooftops, which he intended to combine with one or more of the IEDs, prosecutors said. He threw a sixth IED onto the subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge, according to the complaint, which included a photo of the device.
Authorities found that he conducted internet searches related to explosives and firearms, including: "will i pass a background check,” “gun background check test,” “can i buy a gun in any state without ffl [federal firearms license],” “3D gun printing,” “gun stores,” “clorine bomb,” “how to make flash powder from household items,” “what to mix with potassium perchlorate to make flash powder,” “alluminum powder,” “black powder nearby,” “quarter stick m1000 firecracker,” “1/2 stick dynamite,” and “rechargeable nail gun to shoot into steal.”
Hours before his June 5, arrest in SoHo—where a seventh IED was found on him—Gann posted on Instagram, "Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?" He also falsely told law enforcement, in substance and in part, that he had disposed of the precursor chemicals and the shotgun shells in a dumpster in Manhattan.
“The safety of New Yorkers is paramount,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “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.”