What to Know
- Christian Toro, a former teacher at a Harlem high school, was trying to build bombs with his brother in their apartment, authorities say
- They paid students at Christian Toro's Harlem school $50 an hour to break down fireworks and collect powder from them, the complaint says
- The inquiry began when Christian Toro resigned from the school and his brother returned a school laptop with a bomb-making manual on it
A former New York City math teacher is staying behind bars because a judge says he's not comfortable freeing a man accused of getting students to help him assemble explosives at home.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James Cott in Manhattan cited "very strong evidence" against Christian Toro at his bail hearing Wednesday.
The former Bronx teacher was arrested last week on charges that he illegally manufactured a destructive device.
His lawyer argued that no bomb was found, only ingredients. Cott says enough was found to conclude he's a danger to the community.
Toro resigned from Harlem Prep school after authorities said a 15-year-old student made a bomb threat in December. Last month, Toro was arrested on state charges alleging he took a girl to his home several times and raped her.
