A pair of cousins engaged in an argument were apprehended with a potentially explosive device and a machete outside a Manhattan police station on Wednesday afternoon, as per authorities.
The two individuals pulled up in front of the 25th Precinct in East Harlem, where the driver informed nearby officers that his cousin, who was wielding a machete, had struck him on the head inside the car, stated NYPD Assistant Chief Ruel Stephenson.
The cousin in the passenger’s seat was initially taken into custody by the police. However, the driver later informed the officers about the presence of an explosive device in the car, prompting an evacuation of the precinct on East 119th Street near Lexington Avenue. This led to a significant response from the Bomb Squad and Emergency Services Unit.
The unidentified device was subsequently located and secured, confirmed Stephenson to reporters at the scene.
Commanding Officer of the Bomb Squad, Mark Torre, described the device as a “potentially viable improvised explosive device.”
Torre explained to reporters that investigators are currently conducting tests on the device.
Furthermore, both cousins have a history of 10-20 prior arrests, according to police records.
Deputy Chief Jason Huerta from the NYPD’s Counter Terrorism Division mentioned that the owner of the device has “emotional issues” and appears to be expressing incoherent ideas and paranoid thoughts.
“And we don’t have any reason to believe that he was headed anywhere specifically,” he added.
At least one of the cousins has been taken into custody, although police have not yet announced any charges.
