There’s no political spin needed to understand how dangerous this situation was—this is about public safety, plain and simple. Michael Gann, a 55-year-old man from Inwood, Long Island, has been formally indicted after allegedly planting homemade bombs across New York City, including on rooftops and even on active subway tracks. This wasn’t a prank, a cry for help, or a case of misjudged fireworks. This was a calculated, deliberate, and potentially catastrophic act that could have taken innocent lives.
Let’s be clear: Gann is accused of manufacturing at least seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using chemicals he ordered online—materials like potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder, both commonly used in pyrotechnics and capable of creating powerful blasts when combined. According to the indictment, one of the bombs he built contained about 30 grams of explosive powder. To put that into perspective, that’s roughly 600 times the legal limit allowed in consumer fireworks. This was no backyard bottle rocket. This was a homemade weapon.
The devices weren’t just stashed in a garage or left in a bag. Prosecutors allege that Gann physically placed these IEDs on the rooftops of apartment buildings in SoHo—a densely populated neighborhood in Manhattan—and even threw one onto the subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge. Imagine the chaos if just one of those devices had detonated during rush hour. This wasn’t theoretical risk. This was imminent danger.
And it wasn’t hidden. Gann apparently wanted attention. Just hours before he was arrested on June 5 in SoHo, he posted on Instagram: “Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?” It’s not hard to interpret that as a threat. Not only was he allegedly assembling bombs, but he was also broadcasting his intentions online. That’s not just reckless—it’s chilling.
The investigation revealed that Gann had gone on a disturbing spree of internet searches in the weeks leading up to the incident. Prosecutors say he looked up phrases like “chlorine bomb,” “1/2 stick dynamite,” and “how to make flash powder from household items.” He also reportedly purchased over 200 cardboard tubes and 50 feet of fuse—standard components in constructing homemade explosives.
Thankfully, law enforcement acted swiftly and effectively. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the “skilled investigative work and swift response” of both the NYPD and federal partners for stopping the suspect before the situation turned tragic. “This defendant allegedly stockpiled homemade explosives and traveled to New York City with these deadly devices,” Tisch said, noting that Gann had deliberately placed them in areas where they could have harmed large numbers of people.
The charges are serious, as they should be. Gann faces federal counts of attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, transportation of explosive materials, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. And frankly, if the allegations are proven true, that’s exactly the kind of punishment that fits the crime.
This case raises serious questions—not about politics, but about vigilance and the capability of law enforcement to respond to domestic threats before they erupt into full-blown violence. In a time when so many Americans are concerned about safety in crowded public places, the idea that someone could plant bombs on rooftops and subway lines is a sobering reminder of how fragile that safety can be.
Let’s give credit where it’s due. The coordinated effort between federal prosecutors, the NYPD, and counterterrorism units likely saved lives. But let’s also understand what this means: the threat isn’t always foreign or ideological. Sometimes, it’s a lone individual with internet access and a dangerous agenda. We need to remain vigilant, support our law enforcement, and ensure that our laws have real teeth when it comes to dealing with those who threaten the public.
This wasn’t a scare tactic. It was a near-miss. And next time, we might not be so lucky.
