Authorities arrested six people in New York after a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, escalated into violence on Saturday, with two suspicious devices thrown during the confrontation.
The incident occurred during an anti-Islam demonstration organized by individuals associated with influencer Jake Lang, which drew about 20 participants. The protest, titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City,” was met by a larger counter-protest of more than 100 people. Tensions rose between the groups, leading to pepper spray use by one participant from the original protest and subsequent chaos.
NYPD officers responded swiftly. Video footage captured one suspect lighting and throwing an ignited device toward a group of protesters. The device, which began smoking, was extinguished, and another was thrown near a line of police. The suspect jumped a barricade while carrying a smoking device before being taken into custody.
The primary suspect was identified as 18-year-old Emir Balat. He allegedly received a second device from a 19-year-old identified as Ibrahim Nikk. Both were arrested in connection with handling and deploying the devices.
The devices were described as slightly smaller than a football, appearing to be jars wrapped in black tape, containing nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit. The NYPD bomb squad retrieved and examined them closely. At this time, it remains undetermined whether they were functional improvised explosive devices or hoax devices. No injuries were reported, and no other devices were found after a search of the area.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided details during a news conference, noting the chaotic scene and confirming the arrests. In addition to the two suspects linked to the devices, others were arrested, including one for using pepper spray and several for disorderly conduct and related offenses.
A spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the mayor, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were safe. The mayor was inside the residence at the time of the incident. The spokesperson emphasized that the events serve as a reminder of the ongoing threats faced by the mayor and his family.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is actively investigating the matter alongside the NYPD.
The protest took place during the Islamic month of Ramadan, heightening sensitivities around the demonstration near the home of the city’s Muslim mayor.
