The man is apparently "known to police".

Police in New York have arrested a man after he was seen bringing petrol, lighter fluid and lighters into St Patrick's Cathedral. The news comes just days after a fire devastated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. John Miller, Deputy Police Commissioner, said: "We don't know what his mindset was, what his motive was." The man was confronted by security, and was told he couldn't enter the Cathedral with his items. "At that point, some gasoline apparently spills out onto the floor as he's turned around," "His basic story was he was cutting through the cathedral... that his car had run out of gas," the Deputy Commissioner continued.

Around 7:55pm, a man walked into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan with gas cans and lighter fluid, and was subsequently apprehended by @NYPDCT without incident. We thank our partners for their help, and remember - if you see something, say something. pic.twitter.com/qEbmklnqzQ

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 18, 2019

"We took a look at the vehicle. It was not out of gas and at that point he was taken into custody." Apparently the man in question was "known to police" who are currently looking into the situation. The NYPD tweeted the news, saying: "Around 7:55pm, a man walked into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan with gas cans and lighter fluid, and was subsequently apprehended by @NYPDCT without incident." "We thank our partners for their help, and remember - if you see something, say something."