The Alice in Wonderland sculpture in Central Park, Manhattan (Andrés Nieto Porras/Flickr)
A man was arrested last week for threatening to blow up Central Park’s Alice in Wonderland sculpture with a pipe bomb, police said.
Kevin Fallon, a 30-year-old New Yorker, was arrested on April 11 after police found three pipe bombs in his apartment, according to reports. The bombs turned out to be dysfunctional. Police also found rifle ammunition and multiple knives that had been taped together.
According to court documents, Fallon allegedly sent a group text message to friends and family members on April 9, threatening to blow up the Central park sculpture. He followed with photos of a pipe bomb and rifle ammunition, and a threat that said, “Look both ways before you cross the street. This is going to hurt. None of you are safe. I am lethal.”
Another phone message included a photo of what appeared to be a pipe bomb with a wristwatch attached to it, saying, “the alarm clock bomb is for real. When I give it to him it will be filled with powder and ready to detonate.” (“Him” refers to one of the people that Fallon was texting with, according to Manhattan District Attorney’s Office records.)
Created by José de Creeft in 1959, the 11-feet-tall bronze sculpture features Lewis Carroll’s Alice seated on a mushroom and surrounded by the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, among other characters from the classic novel. The unique statue, located north of the Conservatory Pond, was commissioned by the magazine publisher and philanthropist George Delacorte for the entertainment of children, but it has also gained a reputation as a favorite spot for fans of psychedelic drugs.
Fallon’s motive for allegedly seeking to harm the sculpture remains unclear.
He was arraigned Monday on charges of making a terroristic threat and criminal possession of a weapon, according to court documents. Fallon is being held on Rikers Island with a bail of $50,000. He awaits a court hearing on July 13.
