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| NYPD: Explosives suspect targeted Washington Square Arch |
| 2013-01-11 |
| A man nabbed on suspicion of possession of an explosive substance allegedly told people he planned to bomb the iconic arch in New York City's Washington Square Park. Aaron Greene, 31, was arrested in December after police say they discovered the explosive substance and a sawed-off shotgun in his Greenwich village apartment while serving an unrelated warrant for felony grand larceny against his girlfriend, Morgan Gliedman. As part of the investigation, NYPD Intelligence Division detectives discovered witnesses who recounted alleged conversations that Greene had with them regarding the arch, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne. "I'm making bombs," Greene allegedly told witnesses, according to Browne. "What for?" the witnesses asked, the deputy commissioner said. "To blow up the arch," Greene allegedly replied, said Browne. Browne said Greene tested a small amount of the explosives -- believed to be hexamethylene triperoxide diamine, or HMTD -- in the park to show the power of the explosives to the witnesses. During the test, Browne blew up a small amount of the chemical by hitting it with a rock, which caused a small explosion. Police issued no public reports of an explosion at the park at the time witnesses said the incident allegedly occurred. A week ago, sources said Greene allegedly set off a small explosion in front of witnesses inside his apartment. This is what initially led witnesses to alert the NYPD that Greene had explosive chemicals, according to the sources. After Greene was arrested, he was interrogated by police about whether he had other weapons. He allegedly told police "he had given them to a friend in law enforcement," Browne said. Police say Greene did not identify the supposed friend, but police investigators identified him as Daniel Whittaker, 33, in Orangeberg, NY. A cache of firearms was discovered in Whittaker's home. Browne said, "We found 21 guns, including an Uzi and assault weapon, a switchblade, brass knuckles and a stun gun." Browne said Whittaker has not been charged by the NYPD. Whittaker is a suspended corrections officer in Rockland County, NY. Prosecutors say he is currently on trial in Rockland County on charges of drug possession and fleeing an officer. His attorney, Joey Jackson, said that although Whittaker knows Greene, he had no knowledge of Greene's alleged criminal activities and was not guilty by associatio. Investigators also say they discovered undated letters allegedly written by Greene at Whittaker's home. Browne said, "In one, Greene says his parents have sent him to Greece because they're concerned if he stayed in New York, he'd kill 100 people. On another piece of paper, he also wrote the word 'kill' dozens of times and 'kill them all.'" |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #4 LOL Rob |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-01-11 15:54 |
#3 On another piece of paper, he also wrote the word 'kill' dozens of times and 'kill them all.' Thank god no one looks at the notes I take during long meetings... |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2013-01-11 12:10 |
| #2 I used to hang out near the arch on weekends when I was living in the Village. There's always a crowd there durng the summer. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2013-01-11 11:58 |
| #1 During the test, Browne blew up a small amount of the chemical by hitting it with a rock, which caused a small explosion. Yeah... he doesn't sound like the brightest man ever to read the Anarchist's Cookbook. I grew up next door to a pair of explosives-crazed teenagers with more sense of self-preservation than this guy. They both had bits and pieces missing by graduation. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2013-01-11 08:48 |