Federal authorities have charged 55-year-old Michael Gann, a New York City resident, with constructing and placing at least seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) across Manhattan.
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Most of the potential bombs were placed on rooftops of various apartment buildings, while one was thrown onto the subway tracks of the Williamsburg Bridge.
That bridge, once the longest suspension bridge span in the world, carries eight lanes of vehicular traffic, two tracks of the New York City subway system, and an upper deck for pedestrians and bicycles.
It would be an understatement to note that had Gann succeeded in setting off these IEDs, the damage and loss of life could have potentially been astounding.
“The safety of New Yorkers is paramount,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement. “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