A former teacher and his twin brother have been arrested in the Bronx on federal bomb making charges.
More than 30 pounds of bomb making materials were discovered inside their apartment.
“Once again, the brave men and women of the NYPD and of the FBI have done extraordinary work and in this case likely saved many, many lives,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The investigation into Christian and Tyler Toro began back in December when a student made a bomb threat against a charter school in Harlem. Christian Toro worked at the school and suddenly quit.
“In January a teacher in that school abruptly resigned and school authorities reviewing his laptop noticed some material that was questionable and the contacted our detectives,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said.
The questionable material was instructions on making a bomb. Toro claimed he was doing research, but investigators then began talking to students at the school. He had allegedly been paying students $50 an hour to help him.
“At least two students who were present in the Toro's apartment emptied explosive black powder from fireworks um harvesting them from fireworks and then putting them into separate containers,” Deputy Police Commissioner John Miller said.
A search warrant was executed on Thursday, where investigators found the bomb making materials and a diary. The diary referred to a plan known as “Operation Flash” and there was an entry that read “Under the full moon the small ones will know terror.”
The brothers have pleaded not guilty to federal bomb making charges. It’s unclear what their motive or target may have been.
Mayor de Blasio says there is no additional, imminent threat directed against the city.
Police said the brothers have no criminal history and they weren’t on their radar before this investigation.
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