Man Caught Walking Into New York Cathedral With Full Gas Cans, Lighters

[CalMeacham]

Clearly, to some people, the news about the fire at Notre Dame starts them thinking “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”

Man Caught Walking Into New York Cathedral With Full Gas Cans, Lighters: Police

April 17 (Reuters) ― A 37-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday night after walking into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City with two full gasoline cans, lighter fluid and lighters, police said.
…

In New York, the man entered the Roman Catholic cathedral in midtown Manhattan just before 8 p.m. and was confronted by a security guard, according to a New York City Police Department (NYPD) official.
As the man turned to leave, gasoline spilled onto the floor and the guard alerted police officers stationed outside.
Officers caught up with the man and he was taken into custody after questioning, said John Miller, deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism for the NYPD.
…
The man told police he was taking a short cut through the cathedral to get to Madison Avenue from 5th Avenue to return to his van which had run out of gasoline, Miller said.
When police checked the vehicle they found it was not out of fuel, at which point the man was arrested, he said. “He is known to police and we are looking into his background. We don’t know what his mindset was, what his motive was.”

Two full cans of gasoline, lighter fluid, and matches? He obviously wasn’t trying for subtle.

I don’t think he would have been able to start a Notre-Dame-like fire, but he certainly could have seriously damaged one of the floor-level “chapels” within.

The best part:

The man, who police declined to identify because he has not been charged, was still in custody early Thursday.
The New York Daily News and other publications, citing unnamed police sources, identified the man as a philosophy professor and a New Jersey resident.

A philosophy professor???

There’s a story in here.

[Kobal2]

Feh, Americans. Aaaalways with the remakes. Can’t you produce anything original ?!

[Broomstick]

@CalMeacham

A philosophy professor

Yeah. And the Unabomber was mathematics professor at one point. I read somewhere (don’t know if it’s true or not) that “engineer” was the most profession of terrorists these days. You think the commies killed the intelligentisia just for the yucks?

Since race and religion haven’t been mentioned I’m assuming he’s bog-standard white America male of Christian background even if maybe (total speculation here) he has atheist inclinations himself?

[CalMeacham]

@Broomstick

Yeah. And the Unabomber was mathematics professor at one point. I read somewhere (don’t know if it’s true or not) that “engineer” was the most profession of terrorists these days.

It’d make sense. You think it’s easy to blow things up right? It takes planning and calculation.
But he wasn’t an engineer – he was a philosopher. That’s whole different ball game. an engineer would’ve built a cleverly concealed, intricately working fire device to take into the cathedral with him. It looks like this guy stopped at Home Depot on his way to the church and just brought in the stuff as he bought it. It’s surprising that he remembered the matches. It would have been embarrassing if he had to borrow a lighter.

[Annie-Xmas]

Let’s see…the man was known to police, was carrying two cans of gasoline, lighter fluid and lighters, told the cops his car was out of gas (it wasn’t) and went into the church right after another famous church had had a fire.

Professor or not, not the brightest person in the bunch.

ETA:

@1010winsnews.com

Police have not identified the suspect, but multiple reports say he is Marc Lamparello from Hasbrouck Heights.

[bobot]

He needed a better cover story. Like: I was planning a cross country trip and I wanted to get this gas blessed for the start of the journey.

[Annie-Xmas]

Googling his name brings up some interesting information, including a published book on philosophy at amazon: marc lamparello - Google Search

[aceplace57]

Interesting that police officers were already stationed just out the church.

I guess they anticipated someone might attack this NY landmark after Notre Dame?

Article says a little gas spilled. That shouldn’t happen if the caps on the cans are screwed tight. This guy was ready to pour it out quickly.

[Annie-Xmas]

That’s part of the reason. Also, it is Holy Week and NYC landmarks are routinely patrolled in his Age of Terrorism.

[CalMeacham]

@Annie-Xmas

Googling his name brings up some interesting information, including a published book on philosophy at amazon: marc lamparello - Google Search

Here’s his book: https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Counterpoint-Marc-Lamparello-ebook/dp/B01MG068JU/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=marc+lamparello&qid=1555599912&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull

Reason and Counterpoint

What is the nature of the a priori? Can we really rely on our own cognitive architecture in distilling the nature of moral-practical motivation? What role does cognitive science play in adding to the solutions of traditional philosophical problems, about which debate has raged for centuries? In Reason and Counterpoint, Marc Lamparello tackles these and scores of other exciting questions in contemporary Analytic philosophy in a sharp, incisive, and engaging manner. Presented in the form of aphorisms and paragraph-length insights, Reason and Counterpoint offers ambitious and highly creative answers to some of the most vexing philosophical questions, while also using skepticism to question some of the most basic assumptions at the heart of philosophical method and inquiry. Suitable for both the professional philosopher and layperson alike, Reason and Counterpoint will take the reader on a journey surveying major areas of philosophical discourse, leading to a richer and deeper understanding of some of the central questions of any thinking person.

Just the one book, although he was planning to do two more.

[Colibri]

@Annie-Xmas

Googling his name brings up some interesting information, including a published book on philosophy at amazon: marc lamparello - Google Search

Heh. Check out “Rate my professor” at Brooklyn College. Of the 14 ratings, six were from before today and are all “Awesome.” Ones from today:

His teaching style is lit!

The stench of gasoline smell in class made it difficult to learn [His only “Awful” rating]

He always carried lighter fluid and a lighter for BBQs and a couple spare gas cans in case someone needed some fuel. I’d give him a 9/11.

Hes a big fan of field trips, and getting us out into the world to study in Church. BYOB of gas, he always runs out.

His lectures were real fire and brimstone. I broke a sweat at each and every one.
His dedication is lit!!! His teaching style is on fire and his extra credit, field trips to local churches are smoking hot!!!

Amazing teacher, would walk around campus with a gallon of gasoline just to help poor students who were low! Also carried a bunch of lighters incase a student needed a light!

[Spiderman]

@aceplace57

Interesting that police officers were already stationed just out the church.

I guess they anticipated someone might attack this NY landmark after Notre Dame?

@Annie-Xmas

That’s part of the reason. Also, it is Holy Week and NYC landmarks are routinely patrolled in his Age of Terrorism.

In NYC it’s almost routine to see ESU (ie. SWAT) officers standing around with M-16/AR-15 rifles & ballistic helmets in front of certain iconic/touristy spots.

Penn Station not only has NYPD & the multiple transit agency PD officers but armed military personal on patrol/observation duty.

[ioioio]

Did he have a cover story for the lighter fluid and matches?

Why did he need both gasoline and lighter fluid?

[CalMeacham]

@ioioio

Did he have a cover story for the lighter fluid and matches?

Why did he need both gasoline and lighter fluid?

I don’t know what reason he gave, but gasoline is notoriously more difficult to light than you’d think.* Lighter fluid does light easily, and may have been intended to help get the gasoline started.

It is possible to ignite a pool of gasoline using only a cigarette.

partly plausible

A cigarette has the potential to light a pool of gasoline but just doesn’t have enough sustained heat. Gas ignites between 500 °F and 540 °F, the cigarette at its hottest was between 450 °F and 500 °F but only when it was actually being smoked. An ignition is very improbable.

MythBusters Special 7: Hollywood on Trial

[Colibri]

@CalMeacham

I don’t know what reason he gave, but gasoline is notoriously more difficult to light than you’d think.* Lighter fluid does light easily, and may have been intended to help get the gasoline started.

MythBusters Special 7: Hollywood on Trial

So you mean all those movies where a flicked cigarette instantly causes a pool of gasoline to explode in giant flames are inaccurate?!:eek:

[Der_Trihs]

@Broomstick

Yeah. And the Unabomber was mathematics professor at one point. I read somewhere (don’t know if it’s true or not) that “engineer” was the most profession of terrorists these days.

It’s not quite that bad, but studies do show that engineers are lopsidedly represented among terrorists.

This article demonstrates that among violent Islamists engineers with a degree,individuals with an engineering education are three to four times more frequent thanwe would expect given the share of engineers among university students in Islamiccountries.

As for why, one theory I’ve heard is that since engineering is all about *how *to do things rather than what or why, it disproportionately attracts intellectually inclined people who don’t want to question their own beliefs.

[Jackmannii]

From the New York Times:

*"At least one of the courses he has taught, Introduction to the Problems of Philosophy, touched on the idea of religion.

The course included “such topics as the nature and scope of knowledge, meaning and verification, the existence of God, determinism and free will, the mind-body problem, and the nature of moral judgments,” according to an online course description for Brooklyn College."*

“My mind said no no no, but my body went and did it anyway.”

Should be a workable defense.

[Muffin]

The Rate My Professors comments are a hoot. Marc Lamparello at Brooklyn College | Rate My Professors

[Jackmannii]

With the news stories of the past week, is anyone else suffering from this earworm?

[Colibri]

@Muffin

The Rate My Professors comments are a hoot. https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=2178550

Quoted in post #11.