Two individuals have been detained following an incident where anti-Islam protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators.
New York police have confirmed that an improvised explosive device was thrown outside Zohran Mamdani’s official residence on Saturday during clashes between anti-Islam protesters led by right-wing influencer Jake Lang and counter-protesters.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that initial bomb squad analysis of the device that was lit and thrown during the protest revealed it was not a hoax device or a smoke bomb.
“Indeed, it is an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death. Further analysis will be conducted on the other device as well,” Tisch said in a social media post.
The commissioner added that two men, Amir Balat and Ibrahim Qayoumi, who were arrested at the scene, are in custody in connection with the incident and that the NYPD is working with federal prosecutors and the FBI through a terrorism task force.
Tish added, “I want to once again thank the brave members of the NYPD who, without hesitation, rushed toward danger and quickly apprehended the suspects.”
New York police have confirmed that an improvised explosive device was thrown outside Zohran Mamdani’s official residence on Saturday. The incident occurred during clashes between anti-Islam protesters and counter-protesters led by right-wing influencer Jake Lang.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that initial bomb squad analysis of the device lit and thrown during the protest revealed it was not a hoax device or a smoke bomb.
Tisch said in a social media post, “Indeed, it is an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death. The other device will be further analyzed.”
The commissioner said that two people, Amir Balat and Ibrahim Qayumi, who were arrested at the scene, are in custody in connection with the incident, and the NYPD is working with federal prosecutors and the FBI through a terrorism task force.
“I want to once again thank the brave members of the NYPD who, without hesitation, ran toward danger and quickly apprehended the suspects,” Tisch said.
He said the device hit a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers. The same person then ran away, and another person gave him a second device, which he dropped.
Tish said the devices were smaller than footballs and wrapped in black tape, containing nuts, bolts, and screws, as well as a hobby fuse that could be lit.
Tish did not report any injuries at the press conference and said he believed Mamdani was not home at the time.
Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil unrest, and other crimes. He was subsequently pardoned last year as part of Donald Trump’s sweeping clemency process for those accused of January 6th. Lang recently announced he is running for the US Senate in Florida.
Lang also protested in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Tisch said about 20 people came to the protest he was associated with on Saturday, and the counterprotest had about 125 people at its peak.