New York City police identified two suspects after an attempted explosive attack outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, authorities and news outlets reported.
Video circulated by the independent newswire Freedomnews appears to show one person handing a device to another just before police made arrests near the mansion. Officers recovered an object described as a jar wrapped in black tape that contained nuts, bolts, screws and what appeared to be a fuse.
The two arrests were part of a larger law-enforcement response that left six people detained following a chaotic clash between rival protest groups outside the residence. The confrontation began when an anti-Islam demonstration organized by right-wing influencer Jake Lang met a larger counter-protest that had gathered during Ramadan.
Police said two “suspicious” devices were ignited and thrown during the mêlée. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said the items — roughly slightly smaller than a football — are being examined to determine whether they were functional improvised explosive devices or hoaxes. She noted witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as a device traveled through the air before striking a barrier and extinguishing a short distance from officers.
Investigators are testing the recovered items to determine whether they contained energetic material that could indicate a greater threat. According to authorities, the clash escalated shortly after midday when someone in the anti-Islam group allegedly used pepper spray against counter-protesters.
About 20 minutes later, police say an 18-year-old counter-protester ignited and threw a device that landed on a crosswalk. That individual then ran to a 19-year-old associate, who is accused of retrieving and igniting a second device, which was dropped on the street as officers advanced. Both males were among the six taken into custody.
Mayor Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were reported safe. A mayoral spokesperson condemned the Lang-organized demonstration as “despicable and Islamophobic” and said the incident underscores the threats the mayor faces. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed and emphasized that while peaceful protest is respected, there is “zero tolerance for hate or violence.” Police said there is no current indication the incident is linked to international conflicts.
Reporting cited: CNN and Freedomnews; original copy from ANI syndicated feed.
