New York City Police have identified improvised explosive devices (IEDs) thrown during protests outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home at Gracie Mansion on Saturday as capable of causing serious injury or death. The incident involved two opposing groups: about 20 far-right activists led by Jake Lang protesting against public Muslim prayer and a larger counterprotest aimed at running “Nazis” out of New York.
Key Takeaways
An improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown during protests outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home at Gracie Mansion on Saturday. The incident involved two opposing groups protesting, one led by far-right activist Jake Lang against public Muslim prayer and the other a larger counterprotest. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi from Pennsylvania, were arrested after throwing devices capable of causing serious injury or death.
- NYPD identifies IEDs thrown during protests outside Gracie Mansion as highly dangerous
- Suspects identified as Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, both from Pennsylvania
- Devices contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a volatile explosive favored by terrorists
- FBI and NYPD investigating the incident as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism
- A third device found in a vehicle linked to suspects
The devices, described as jars filled with nuts, bolts, screws wrapped in black tape with a fuse, were thrown by Emir Balat, 18. A second device was also thrown but is still being examined. Two people were arrested: Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, both from Pennsylvania. Both remain in custody as authorities continue to investigate.
The NYPD has confirmed that the devices contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a volatile explosive commonly used by terrorists. The FBI and NYPD are investigating the incident as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism. A third device, which did not contain explosive material, was also identified and disposed of in a vehicle nearby.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned both the protest and the violence that followed. 'Violence at a protest is never acceptable,' Mamdani said in a statement on Sunday. 'The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.'
The NYPD is working with federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, to probe the incident. The investigation includes raids on the suspects' homes in Pennsylvania and further analysis of the devices at Quantico.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 8 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.