'Serious' bomb-making materials are discovered inside NYC home following a fire and tenant 'with a survivalist guide' is led away as FBI investigates
The FBI is investigating after a stash of possible bomb-making materials was found at a Queens home hours after the building caught fire on Tuesday.
The suspicious items were found at a two-story building on 19th Street in Astoria after the blaze was extinguished.
Fire marshals found a supply of chemicals and 'a number of books and manuals' that led them to summon the NYPD bomb squad - although there was no 'assembled' device at the home.
Footage showed a tenant being taken into custody, described by cops as a 'distraught individual' who was sent to a Manhattan hospital because of his 'emotional state'.
The FBI is now helping the investigation into the suspicious materials, which are thought to be a 'one-man job', while the man is known to police after a previous domestic violence arrest.
The NYPD bomb squad was called to Astoria, Queens, Tuesday night after reports that 'serious bomb-making materials' were discovered by a property where a fire broke out earlier in the day
Footage from the Queens home showed a shirtless tenant being taken away after he greeted firefighters in an 'argumentative' manner with burns on his hands
The house fire broke out Tuesday afternoon but was put out by 2pm
Nearby buildings were evacuated
Law enforcement officials investigate outside the house on Tuesday night
Federal agents joined the NYPD in investigating the apparent bomb-making materials
Footage broadcast by Pix11 showed the shirtless man being taken away after he greeted firefighters in an 'argumentative' manner with burns on his hands.
The man was the tenant of the downstairs portion of the house, while the landlord later arrived to inspect the damage.
It is not clear whether he has been arrested or what charges he could face.
Sources told the Daily News that investigators found 'survivalist' materials and a book with bomb-making instructions, manuals on booby traps and material on military explosives when they searched the home.
'There was nothing ready to blow up, but you've got to take it seriously,' one source told the Daily News. 'It appears to be a one-man play.'
NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism John Miller said in a press conference Tuesday night that chemicals found inside the home could be combined to make an explosive.
Mark Torre of the NYPD bomb squad described them as 'precursor materials' that could be made into a dangerous device.
'We are going to have to go over and figure out what all this means,' Miller said, adding that cops were awaiting a warrant for further searches.
The man is known to police but it is too early to say whether he could be linked to any organization, Miller said.
Pix11 added that the man had been taken to hospital, where he remained last night, as he was acting 'emotionally disturbed'.
The owner of the home told Pix11 that the FDNY pulled a black crate into the front yard of the building as they had fought back the blaze.
The owner called the FBI after fuses and powder were found inside.
Sources told the New York Post that wick cords, used for fuses, and possibly ammonium nitrate were in the crate.
Sniffer dogs were on the scene after the potential bomb-making equipment was found
The owner of the property called the NYPD and FBI after the crate was discovered
One person was injured in the blaze earlier in the day and taken to hospital
A law enforcement official at the scene where bomb-making materials were found
A neighbor told the Post that the man taken to hospital is a divorced father whose 'shades were always closed'.
'Upon further investigation by FDNY Marshals, there were materials found that included a number of chemicals, a number of packages, and a number of books and manuals that caused them to call NYPD for further investigation,' a statement said.
'There was no assembled device found. There was no completed improvised explosive device in the residence. The investigation remains ongoing.'
ABC News reported one injury in the earlier fire. The person was taken to Cornell Medical Center.
Nearby buildings were being evacuated Tuesday and fire officials were on standby as the investigation continued.
The NYPD 114th precinct asked everyone to avoid Astoria Park and the surrounding streets.
At the house fire Tuesday afternoon, two units and 60 firefighters responded to the scene. The fire was placed under control by 2pm.
'Serious' bomb-making materials are discovered inside NYC home following a fire and tenant 'with a survivalist guide' is led away as FBI investigates
!['Serious' bomb-making materials are discovered inside NYC home following a fire and tenant 'with a survivalist guide' is led away as FBI investigates]()
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September 16, 2020
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