Device ignited at Gracie Mansion protest was an improvised explosive, NYPD says
NYPD Confirms Improvised Explosive Device Used in Gracie Mansion Protest
During Saturday’s demonstrations near Gracie Mansion in New York City, a device was ignited, identified as an improvised explosive by police. Two men were detained after one of two objects was activated during an anti-Islam rally led by conservative figure Jake Lang and a concurrent counterprotest outside the mayor’s residence. At the time, the nature of the devices and their potential threat to public safety were still under assessment.
Federal and Local Authorities Investigate Potential Terrorism Links
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and NYPD, are examining the event as a possible act of terrorism. One suspect in custody referenced ISIS in statements to authorities, according to multiple sources. The two detainees, from Pennsylvania, are currently being interviewed by federal agents and the police department. Further tests on the devices are ongoing, with officials collaborating with federal prosecutors to determine next steps.
“Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on the scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in a post on X.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim, was present inside the mansion during the incident. He praised the swift action of officers and emphasized his close coordination with Tisch on the case. Mamdani condemned the anti-Islam demonstration organized by Lang, whom he characterized as a white supremacist, as a display of intolerance. “What followed was even more disturbing,” he added. “Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and harm others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”
Protest Details and Escalation
The Lang-led rally, titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” attracted around 20 participants, according to police. However, the counterprotest drew approximately 125 demonstrators at its peak. Both groups were initially separated into designated zones at 11 a.m., but tensions heightened within an hour. At 12:15 p.m., a protester from the anti-Islam group sprayed pepper spray at counterprotesters and was taken into custody. Shortly after 12:30 p.m., an 18-year-old counterprotester “lit and threw an ignited device toward the protest area,” as reported by Tisch.
Investigators believe the suspects parked their vehicle near the mansion, prompting a search by the NYPD bomb squad to check for additional explosives. Sources indicate that searches of both men’s homes and electronic devices are planned. The incident occurred during the middle of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is observed globally as a period of fasting, reflection, and spiritual connection, commemorating the revelation of the Quran’s first verses to Prophet Muhammad.
