A New Jersey man was taken into custody Wednesday after he tried to bring gas cans into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, police said.

The man had four gallons of gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid and lighters but was stopped by security when he went inside at about 8 p.m., said John Miller, deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism of the New York City Police Department, during a press conference.

NBC New York and the New York Daily News said the man is Marc Lamparello, 37, of Hasbrouck Heights.

The man was not identified and will not be until he is formally charged with a specific crime, Miller said. He is "known to police" though, Miller said.

"His basic story was he was cutting through the cathedral to get to Madison Avenue, that his car had run out of gas," Miller said. "We took a look at the vehicle. It was not out of gas."

Miller said it was too soon to know if it was an intended act of terrorism.

The incident comes days after the Notre Dame Cathedral was destroyed in a devastating fire.

There will be increased police control at New York City churches Thursday, Councilman Justin Brannan tweeted.

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Check back for more on this developing story.