NEW: Kash Patel’s FBI Foils Would-Be Bomber’s Plans

Federal authorities under FBI Director Kash Patel have thwarted plans by a deranged man who had already begun to plant bombs in sensitive areas across New York City.

The arrest comes as a relief for New Yorkers, who are fresh off watching a violent illegal migrant shoot an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent in the face on Saturday. The suspect allegedly built improvised explosive devices and had identified vulnerable locations to place them, including rooftops and subway tracks, said Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

“The safety of New Yorkers is paramount,” said Clayton in a statement.

Michael Gann, 55, of Inwood, is charged with manufacturing at least seven IEDs using chemicals he legally purchased online, the prosecutor explained. Although it’s unclear how they located Gann, federal authorities are known to monitor the purchase of certain chemicals, such as ammonium nitrate, to determine if they are potentially being used for terrorism.

“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,” he added.

According to the indictment, Gann allegedly threw one of his IEDs onto the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks and began to stash bombs and shotgun shells on the roofs of multiple Manhattan apartments.

Police intercepted Gann on June 5. During a search of his person, they reported finding an IED in his possession. Gann has posted a cryptic message on social media earlier in the day.

“Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?” his final Instagram post reads.

FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia thanked state and federal agencies for their “swift partnership” to bring down Gann. His words were echoed by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who said the team “intervened before [Gann] caused any harm.”

“This defendant allegedly stockpiled homemade explosives and traveled to New York City with these deadly devices,” Tisch said in the release.

“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.”

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky, Michael D. Lockard, and Chelsea L. Scism, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Isaacson are in charge of the prosecution, Fox News reports.

Gann is charged with one count of attempted destruction of property by means of explosives (mandatory minimum five years, maximum 20), one count of transportation of explosive materials (maximum 10), and one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices (maximum 10).

It falls on a judge to determine Gann’s sentence.

The arrest comes after Patel has notched a number of victories as President Trump’s FBI director.

Earlier this month, he announced the arrest of an FBI employee accused of leaking information. Another FBI agent was terminated for soliciting prostitutes while on assignments overseas. In June, Patel arrested a top aide to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for allegedly falsifying documents to receive huge payouts from COVID relief funds.