Man Nabbed Outside St. Pat's Cathedral in NY; Holding Gallons of Gas, Lighter Fluid, Lighters

A man is in custody after he tried to enter St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City last night with gallons of gasoline, lighter fluid, and lighters, the CNN website reports today (April 18, 2019).

When a security officer at the cathedral stopped the 37-year-old man , he left the church and was detained shortly afterward by counterterrorism officers, NYPD's John Miller said at a news conference.

The man, who is from New Jersey and is known to police, spilled some of the gasoline as the security officer stopped him in the church and forced him to turn around, Miller said. Police did not release the man's name; however, a family member identified him as Marc Lamparello of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.

"It's hard to say exactly what his intentions were but I think the totality of circumstances of an individual walking into an iconic location like St. Patrick's Cathedral, carrying over four gallons of gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid, and lighters is something we would have great concern over," Miller said.