The New Jersey man who was busted by police after he walked in Midtown’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral with gasoline and lighter fluid purchased a one-way plane ticket to Rome that was scheduled to take off Thursday night, law enforcement sources told The Post.
Marc Lamparello, 37, was set to fly Italy out of Newark Liberty International Airport before he was busted in the Wednesday night incident, sources said.
Lamparello, who remains in police custody at Midtown North, was quickly intercepted by church security at the iconic Fifth Avenue cathedral on Wednesday.
Cops say Lamparello walked into the neo-Gothic cathedral at around 7:55 p.m. with four gallons of gasoline, lighter fluid, and lighters.
He told police that he was cutting through the church to get to Madison Avenue because his minivan had run out of gas, but authorities say his vehicle was not out of fuel.
Law enforcement sources said Lamparello was busted by New Jersey cops inside of a Newark Catholic church last week because he would not leave when it was closing, claiming that he wanted to pray.
Lamparello was charged with criminal trespassing and resisting arrest in that incident.
He has been treated for psychiatric problems in the past, according to sources who say family members told investigators he’s not taking medication.