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A Long Island man has been indicted for allegedly planning to explode homemade bombs throughout Manhattan, federal prosecutors say. Suspect 55-year-old Michael Gann is charged with constructing and deploying at least seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in different parts of New York City.
Prosecutors allege Gann ordered explosive materials online in May 2025, such as about two pounds of potassium perchlorate and one pound of aluminum powder both popular ingredients for bomb-making. He also ordered more than 200 cardboard tubes and 50 feet of fuses. The indictment says he used those materials to construct several IEDs last month.
As reported by researchers, Gann had kept some of the explosive devices on the roofs of nearby residential buildings in Lower Manhattan and even threw one onto subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge. Miraculously, none of the devices exploded and there were no reported injuries.
Gann was arrested on early June near the buildings where the bombs were discovered. Authorities claim he was holding one of the bombs during his arrest. Interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton added that Gann’s actions “placed countless lives at risk.
One of the devices discovered on a SoHo rooftop held about 30 grams of explosive powder about 600 times the amount of explosive powder permitted in consumer fireworks, prosecutors said.
Gann is currently charged with several federal offenses, including attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, illegal transportation of explosive materials, and illegal possession of destructive devices. If convicted on all the charges, he will be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison.
Prosecutors also disclosed creepy information regarding Gann’s internet activity. Before his arrest, he had made mysterious and ominous posts on social media. Hours before his arrest on June 5, he typed, “Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?” In March, he mentioned the official account of the US President in another post that seemed to talk about political unrest and hinted at violent reactions.
In May and June, Gann allegedly looked up on the internet how to build bombs, purchase guns, employ 3D-printed firearms, and learn about background check procedures for gun purchases.
A judge, after a bail hearing, ordered that Gann be held in custody. His defense lawyer, Martin Cohen, did not comment on the indictment.
