A New York Bagel: NYPD, Feds find chemicals at Staten Island home

Monday, July 30, 2007

NYPD, Feds find chemicals at Staten Island home

Potassium Nitrate [File photo] has many innocent uses
unfortunately it has some rather horrendous uses as well.

Federal agents and police descended on a Staten Island home on Thursday after learning of the presence of large amounts of potassium nitrate, authorities said.

Potassium is often used in pyrotechnics, but NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said there was no evidence that the man was involved in making bombs or selling bomb-making materials. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives was investigating.

Police discovered more than a ton of potassium nitrate in a storage facility near the home. Small amounts of chemicals were found at the home. The man who lived there was being questioned by authorities.

The man was apparently selling the chemicals in smaller quantities on the Internet.

Police evacuated a block in Graniteville, on the west side of Staten Island. The area round the house was cordoned off as concerned residents waited to return to their homes. Rumors circulated earlier that a more sinister chemical had been found.

John Mausch, 46, lives around the corner and said he was only somewhat relieved when he found out it was potassium nitrate.

"I came out and saw all the police - I got very alarmed," he said.

Joseph Green, a senior special agent with the ATF, said a vendor who deals with chemicals notified the agency Thursday that a resident of Staten Island had ordered a large quantity of chemicals.

The man apparently became alarmed because the same buyer ordered a vast quantity of the same substance previously. The first order was delivered to the buyer.

Green said the ATF was at the scene Thursday night along with bomb squads and Hazmat crews.

References:
NY Daily News: NYPD, Feds find chemicals at Staten Island home