New York City police reported that suspicious devices were ignited Saturday during clashing protests outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Six people were arrested in connection with the events.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch spoke at a Saturday evening news conference, detailing the incidents. She said the initial protest, titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City/Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” was organized by individuals associated with Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer. The protest attracted about 20 participants and began around 11 a.m. near East End Avenue and East 87th Street.
In response, a counter-protest named “Run the Nazis Out of New York City/Stand Against Hate” drew approximately 125 participants, Tisch said.
Upon arrival, NYPD officers separated the two groups into designated protest areas to maintain order. However, tensions escalated between the groups. Around 12:15 p.m., an individual from the initial protest used pepper spray against the counter-protesters. The suspect was later arrested.
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., a counter-protester identified as 18-year-old Amir Balat lit and threw an ignited device toward the initial group of protesters. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as the device struck a barrier in a crosswalk, just feet away from police officers. The device then extinguished itself.
According to Commissioner Tisch, Balat ran away, retrieved a second device from a 19-year-old accomplice, lit it, and started running before eventually dropping the device. Both Balat and his accomplice were taken into custody.
The NYPD Bomb Squad examined the devices, which Tisch described as jars wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts, screws, and a hobby fuse that could be ignited. It remains unclear whether these were functional improvised explosive devices or hoax devices. The items are currently undergoing further testing and analysis.
Police continue to search the area for additional hazards, though no other devices have been found so far.
Commissioner Tisch indicated there is no evidence linking the incident to the ongoing war with Iran. She also told CBS News that she could not confirm whether Mayor Mamdani and his wife were home during the protests but expressed her belief that they were not.
A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani released the following statement:
> “The ‘Crusade Against Islamification’ gathering held outside Gracie Mansion today by Jake Lang, a vile white supremacist, was despicable and Islamophobic. Thankfully, the Mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly. The Mayor has spoken with Police Commissioner Tisch, and the NYPD is actively investigating the protest, counter-protest, and suspicious devices discovered outside Gracie Mansion.”
In total, six arrests were made at the protests, including those of Balat, the 19-year-old accomplice, and the individual involved in the pepper spray incident. An additional three arrests were made for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
The NYPD investigation into the events is ongoing.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gracie-mansion-protest-smoke-grenades/
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