During an anti-Islamic demonstration, an explosive device was hurled outside Zohran Mamdani’s home.

When anti-Islam protesters, organized by right-wing influencer Jake Lang, battled with counterprotesters on Saturday, an improvised explosive device was hurled outside Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, according to New York police. A preliminary bomb squad study of the item that was set off and thrown during the demonstration “determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb,” according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

“It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death. Further analysis will be conducted, including on a second device,” Tisch said.   The commissioner also stated that New York police are collaborating with federal prosecutors and the FBI through a terrorism unit, and that two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, who were detained on the scene, are being held in relation to the incident.

“I want to again thank the brave members of the NYPD who ran towards the danger without hesitation and quickly apprehended the suspects,” Tisch added. Mamdani said in a statement that Lang, had organized a protest “rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are.”

He added: “What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. 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 mayor, who had been marking his first 100 days in office, thanked the NYPD for acting quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. “Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day,” he said.

The altercation between counterprotesters and far-right demonstrators who had assembled for a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” march on Saturday at Gracie Mansion, the Upper East Side residence of Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, resulted in six arrests.
After someone from the anti-Muslim organization sprayed the counterprotest with pepper spray, one counterprotester at the event lighted and hurled a device containing nuts, bolts, and screws at them, according to police. According to the New York Times, raw eggs flew through the air as fistfights broke out among the crowd.

When someone in the counterprotest lighted a device that Tisch characterized as being smaller than a football and threw it into the about 20-person protesting gathering, she added, tensions continued to rise.

“A few feet from police officers,” she added, the device struck a barrier and went out. After that, the same individual fled, and someone else handed him a second gadget, which he subsequently dropped. The gadgets, which Tisch claimed were smaller than a football, had a hobby fuse that could be lighted along with nuts, bolts, and screws wrapped in black tape.

During a press appearance, Tisch stated she thought Mamdani wasn’t in the house at the time and didn’t disclose any injuries. Prior to being granted mercy as part of Donald Trump’s broad act of clemency for January 6 offenders last year, Lang was accused of attacking an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder, and other offenses. Lang recently declared his candidacy for the US Senate from Florida.

During the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, Lang also demonstrated in Minneapolis.approximately 125 people participated in the counterprotest at its height, according to Tisch, while just approximately 20 people attended the protest connected to him on Saturday.