A mere two days after the historic Notre Dame was engulfed in flames, a man walked into New York City's infamous St. Patrick's Cathedral with two gas cans and lighters.
A security guard for the historic church saw the man enter the church with two canisters of gasoline, lighter fluid, and two lighters. He confronted the man and proceeded to notify nearby authorities who took the man into custody.
According to John Miller, the New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, the unidentified male parked a minivan near St. Patrick's around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
After the man was stopped by security, he left the church but was later stopped by police officers on Fifth Avenue.
"His answers were inconsistent and evasive, although he remained conversational with them and cooperative."
Miller also said,
"It's hard to say exactly what his intentions were but I think the totality of an individual walking into an iconic location carrying over four gallons of gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid, and lighters is something we would have great concern over. We're looking into his background and talking to a couple of other agencies."
The NYPD posted about the incident on Twitter reminding New Yorkers,
"If you see something, say something."
Many locals are thankful for the authorities' attention to the matter.
Others can't help but notice the uncanny timing.
Mostly, people are just disturbed at the thought of this man's near-attempt at destroying another historic cathedral.
Just like Notre Dame, St. Patrick's Cathedral's ceiling has a wood-framed attic.
@lpeterp/Bluesky
@FPWellman/X
@bobsbeatgmail.com5/Threads