Device ignited at Gracie Mansion protest was an improvised explosive, NYPD says
During Saturday’s concurrent demonstrations in New York City, a projectile hurled beyond Gracie Mansion was identified as an improvised explosive device, officials confirmed. Two individuals were apprehended after one of two devices was activated during an anti-Islam rally spearheaded by conservative figure Jake Lang and a counterprotest nearby, which functions as the mayor’s official residence. At the time of the incident, the nature of the objects and their risk to public safety were not yet clear.
The FBI representative stated that the two detained men are under federal supervision, where they are undergoing questioning by both federal agents and the NYPD. Law enforcement from federal and local agencies is examining the situation as a possible act of terrorism, citing a statement from one of the suspects who mentioned ISIS during interviews, as disclosed by multiple sources connected to the case.
“Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted in a post on X. Additional analysis of both devices is underway, she added. Officials are also collaborating with federal prosecutors to explore the case further.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim, was inside the mansion during the event. He praised the swift response of law enforcement and emphasized his close coordination with Tisch on the investigation. In a Sunday statement, he denounced the original protest organized by Lang, whom he labeled a white supremacist, as an example of prejudice. “This kind of hatred has no place in New York City,” Mamdani asserted. “What followed was even more alarming. Using an explosive to harm others is not just a crime—it is a direct challenge to our values,” he added.
The Lang-led demonstration outside Gracie Mansion was titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” according to police. It attracted around 20 participants. However, the counterprotest saw approximately 125 demonstrators at its height. Both groups were initially kept in separate zones when the protests began at 11 a.m., but tensions rose within an hour. At 12:15 p.m., a protester from Lang’s group sprayed pepper gas at the opposing crowd and was detained. Shortly after 12:30 p.m., an 18-year-old counterprotester “lit and hurled an ignited device toward the protest area,” Tisch reported.
The two suspects, both from Pennsylvania, are being questioned by authorities who are also visiting their homes and reviewing their electronic devices, sources said. The NYPD’s bomb squad is investigating a nearby parking area where the suspects are believed to have parked their vehicle, as per three informed sources. This search aims to identify any additional explosives, serving as a precautionary measure. The incident took place during the holy month of Ramadan, the Islamic calendar’s ninth month, which involves fasting from sunrise to sunset globally. This period is traditionally dedicated to introspection and spiritual unity, commemorating the Quran’s first revelations to Prophet Muhammad.
Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her. Jonathan Dienst serves as chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York. Tom Winter is NBC’s National Law Enforcement and Intelligence Correspondent.
