Feds charge man for throwing IED on historic New York bridge

Prosecutors charged a New York man for allegedly throwing an improvised explosive device, or IED, on the historic Williamsburg Bridge, the Department of Justice said Tuesday. Michael Gann assembled at least seven IEDs and was arrested after throwing one on the tracks of an active subway, the department said. The 55-year-old suspect traveled to New York City with a stockpile of homemade explosives but officials arrested him before any harm came to residents, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Gann may face decades in prison for charges of attempted destruction of property with explosives, transporting explosive materials, and illegal possession of destructive devices. An indictment is only an allegation and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

What happened to the other six IEDs? Officials found at least five IEDs and a collection of shotgun shells on the roof of an apartment complex in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, according to the DOJ. Prosecutors also charged Gann with lying to police about disposing of additional explosives and supplies in a dumpster. The suspect allegedly assembled the explosives using precursor chemicals ordered online, the release said. The indictment cited Gann’s recent internet searches on how to obtain a gun without a license, how to make flash powder with household items, and searches pertaining to several other explosive materials.

Dig deeper: Read my report on a Georgian extradited for an alleged plot to pass out poisoned candy to New York children.