Explosive Devices Discovered in New York Suburb Following Reports of Loud Booms
Authorities have uncovered a cache of improvised explosive devices in a suburban New York neighborhood after residents reported hearing repeated loud explosions. The discovery was made in an apartment in White Plains, leading to the arrest of a 65-year-old man, Raymond Elders.
According to the federal prosecutors’ criminal complaint, Elders was apprehended with “blueish black chemical residue” on his hands while holding a lighter when police arrived at his residence early Monday. He now faces several charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction, manufacturing destructive devices, and possessing explosives following previous felony convictions.
During his initial court appearance on Tuesday, a judge deemed Elders a potential flight risk and community threat, ordering him to remain in custody. Elders’ defense attorney, Sungso Lee, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The investigation began after neighbors alerted authorities to the loud explosions, with one resident noting that such noises had been occurring over several weeks. Upon arrival, officers were directed to Elders’ building, detecting an “acrid, burning odor” and spotting a suspected pipe bomb on the steps.
Inside the apartment, law enforcement discovered Elders and another individual, alongside over 25 improvised explosive devices. Surveillance footage from earlier in the month reportedly shows a man, believed to be Elders, igniting and throwing an explosive device into the street, resulting in a loud detonation seconds later.
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