NYPD: Man planned to blow up Washington Arch

A man accused with his girlfriend of keeping bomb-making materials in their Greenwich Village apartment had told acquaintances he planned to blow up the Washington Arch in Washington Square Park, the NYPD said.

Acquaintances of Aaron Greene told investigators they saw him trigger an explosion after sprinkling a white powder in the park, Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said.

Law enforcement sources told Fox 5 that the FBI searched a storage facility in Hewitt, New Jersey, looking for explosives but so far investigators have come up empty handed.

It was the latest area to be searched as part of the investigation into Greene.

This all started on December 29, 2012. After receiving a tip, investigators searched the Greenwich Village apartment of Greene and his girlfriend, Morgan Gliedman.

Police found 7 grams of a chemical explosive known at HMTD, two shotguns, 60 shotgun shells, and a flare launcher. Cops also discovered instructions for making booby traps and weapons.

Authorities also searched the home of Greene's friend in Orangeburg, N.Y. That friend is a corrections officer who has not been arrested. There cops recovered 21 guns, brass knuckles, two stun guns and a switchblade knife.

Browne said police went there after Greene said he had given some of his weapons to the man.

Greene's lawyer declined to comment.

With The Associated Press.