A man was arrested after entering St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York carrying two cans of fuel, lighter fluid and butane lighters, according to the New York Police Department.
The unidentified 37-year-old man had pulled up in a minivan outside the cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, walked around the area, then returned to his vehicle and retrieved the fuel and lighter fluid.
Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and @NYPDCT John Miller provides a preliminary update regarding tonight’s incident at St. Patrick’s Catherdal in #Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/SO2MwbSBIB
— Terence Monahan (@TerenceMonahan) April 18, 2019
As he entered the cathedral he was confronted by a cathedral security officer . As some fuel apparently spills out onto the floor as he turned around and tried to leave and the cathedral’s security then notified officers from the counter-terrorism bureau who were standing outside and caught up to the man and arrested him.
New York Police said he justified his actions by stating he was taking a short cut through the cathedral to get to Madison Avenue because his car had run out of fuel. A police inspection of the car found it was not out of fuel.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral was built in 1878 and has installed a sprinkler-like system during recent renovations. Its wooden roof is also coated with fire retardant.
Via NBC News
