On February 15, 2018, twin brothers Christian and Tyler Toro, both 27, were arrested and hit with federal explosives charges after law enforcement agents found a cache of bomb-making materials at their home in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx.
According to the complaint and a press briefing held at NYPD headquarters, Christian Toro came under suspicion after a bomb threat was called in to the Harlem high school where he worked as a teacher in December 2017. A 15-year old student was arrested in connection with that incident, and Toro abruptly resigned a short time later. On January 12, Christian had his brother Tyler return a work laptop to the school, and a technical specialist at the school found a copy of a bomb-making book on the laptop. School officials promptly notified the NYPD.
On February 8, law enforcement agents interviewed Christian Toro at the Bronx apartment where he lives with his brother and mother. According to the complaint, he claimed that he had come across the bomb-making book while researching the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and that he had only looked at the table of contents. Toro also stated that he had never built a bomb.
On February 14, authorities learned that Christian Toro had paid students from the school $50 an hour to break open fireworks and place the powder that came out in containers in his apartment.
The search of Christian and Tyler Toro’s apartment
Law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the brothers’ apartment the following day and discovered more than 30 pounds of explosive precursor chemicals. The chemicals were found in two closets in the bedroom that they shared. Agents also found a glass jar containing explosive powder, a bag containing metal spheres, and a cardboard box containing firecrackers, among other things.
“Under the full moon the small ones will know terror.”
-Christian Toro
A handwritten diary was found on a table in the kitchen with Tyler Toro’s name on it. The diary refers to discarding evidence of “Operation Flash”, and includes the statement “we are twin Toros strike us now, we will return with nano thermite”.
According to the complaint, Christian Toro was arrested and charged with statutory rape in January in an unrelated case.
The criminal charges
Christian and Tyler Toro are each charged with one count of unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and Christian Toro is also charged with one count of distribution of explosive materials to a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Both defendants were assigned counsel and pleaded not guilty. Christian Toro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, and Tyler Toro is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York.
Update: Christian and Tyler Toro both pled guilty on November 26.