A New York man is facing federal charges for allegedly making and storing homemade explosives around Manhattan, including on active subway tracks and residential rooftops.

Michael Gann, 55, of Inwood, was charged on Tuesday with making at least seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with chemicals he purchased online, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton.

According to authorities, Gann allegedly threw an IED across the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks and stored explosives, including shotgun rounds, above Manhattan residential buildings.

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

Authorities say Gann’s alleged actions included throwing an IED onto the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks and hoarding explosives, some with shotgun shells, above Manhattan apartment buildings.

He was arrested June 5 with another device on him, officials said. On Instagram on the same day, Gann reportedly posted, “Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?”

FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia credited the “swift partnership” between agencies for stopping Gann before he could inflict harm. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the coordinated effort “intervened before he 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 United States Attorney’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. The prosecution is led by Assistant US Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky, Michael D. Lockard, and Chelsea L. Scism, as well as Special Assistant US Attorney Julie Isaacson.

Gann is charged with one crime of attempting to destroy property with explosives (minimum five years, maximum 20), one count of transportation of explosive materials (maximum ten), and one count of unauthorized possession of destructive devices (maximum ten).

The bureau made headlines earlier this week when FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced that the bureau dismantled a major Chinese espionage operation inside the United States, including agents who were actively working to recruit American service members into betraying their country.

In a statement posted to X, Bongino said the FBI executed eight search warrants and made two arrests in San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego as part of the operation. He described the spy ring as “sophisticated” and directly tied to the Chinese government.

“This is your FBI, and you deserve to know about the work we’re doing every day to keep our country and citizens safe,” Bongino said.

The takedown follows a series of cases earlier this year in which U.S. Army soldiers were caught passing sensitive information to the People’s Republic of China in what Bongino called “treason-adjacent espionage.”

According to the FBI, the foreign agents were attempting to steal U.S. defense secrets and advanced technologies, including missile and drone capabilities, while also conducting surveillance and intimidation campaigns on U.S. soil.

Since January 2025, the FBI has arrested 51 foreign intelligence agents from nations including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Charges range from economic espionage and sanctions evasion to stealing classified information and smuggling biological materials.

Bongino said the bureau has nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases, with more than 800 new cases opened this year alone.