Astoria house fire sparks bomb investigation

An apartment fire across from Astoria Park prompted an investigation when the NYPD found suspicious materials. Photo via Google Streetview

By Rachel Vick

Police and fire officials investigating an Astoria house fire Tuesday found materials that could be used to create a bomb inside a tenant’s apartment, the NYPD said.

The owner of the 19th Street property informed investigators of packages he found suspicious inside the apartment of a 37-year-old tenant injured in the blaze. 

Firefighters found 40 lbs. of potassium nitrate, a chemical compound that can be used to create explosives, along with some fuses in the apartment, NBC reported. Investigators are working to identify other chemicals found on scene, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

"What we know is we had a fire, we had an emotionally distraught individual who had to be removed to a hospital, we had some chemicals in certain amounts that gave us concern about what they were for and what they could make together, and some written material that we are going to have to go over and figure out what all this means,"  NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said in a statement.

The man, Marak Squires, has so far been charged with reckless endangerment and remains in custody, police said. No bombs were found on the premises, according to the NYPD. 

The investigation by the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI is ongoing, according to the NYPD.