Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges against a New York man for allegedly building improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and stashing them at locations around Manhattan, even throwing one device onto subway tracks.
According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, 55-year-old Michael Gann allegedly ordered precursor chemicals online in May 2025, including potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder, along with cardboard tubes and fuses used to assemble explosives.
Prosecutors say he mixed the chemicals, created at least seven IEDs, and stored five of them, along with shotgun shells, on the rooftops of residential buildings in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. A black device recovered by authorities allegedly contained about 30 grams of explosive powder — roughly 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks. Prosecutors say Gann threw one device onto subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge.
“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 risk. Thanks to swift work by our law enforcement partners, no one was harmed. That vigilance assuredly prevented a tragedy in New York.”
Gann was arrested June 5 in SoHo with another IED in his possession. At the time, he allegedly misled investigators by claiming he had disposed of other materials in a dumpster. Investigators also found online searches on his devices related to firearms and explosives, including “clorine bomb,” “how to make flash powder from household items,” “black powder nearby,” “gun background check test,” “3D gun printing,” and “rechargeable nail gun to shoot into steal.”
Just hours before his arrest, Gann allegedly wrote on Instagram, “Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?”
“This defendant allegedly stockpiled homemade explosives and traveled to New York City with these deadly devices,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “He threw one of these devices onto an active subway track and stored others on the rooftop of a residential building, but because of the skilled investigative work and swift response from the NYPD and our partners, we were able to intervene before he caused any harm. I am grateful to the members of the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for all the work they do every day to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Gann faces one count of attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison; one count of transportation of explosive materials, with a maximum of 10 years; and one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices, also carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years.
