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Two men were arrested after they allegedly threw improvised explosive devices outside the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a counterprotest that resulted in six total arrests on Saturday (March 7), ABC News reports.
Emir Balat of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Ibrahim Kayumi of Newton, Pennsylvania, are both expected to face federal charges in connection with the incident, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Balat and Kayumi told investigators that they watched ISIS videos prior to confronting far-right, anti-immigrant provocateur Jake Lang outside of the Gracie Mansion on Saturday.
The devices, which were were initially believed to be smoke bombs, were tested by the New York Police Department's bomb squad and determined to be potential explosive devices, sources confirmed to ABC News and added that they were sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, to undergo additional testing. New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the improvised explosive devices were thrown during an anti-Muslim protest outside the mayor's residence and that the city's Bomb Squad conducted preliminary analysis of the device that "has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. 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."
Mamdani also released a statement Sunday denouncing the protest and thanking the police officers who responded to the dueling protests, which resulted in six total arrests.
"Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City," Mamdani said via ABC News. "It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are. 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."
"I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted 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 added.