A device thrown outside the official residence ofNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdaniduringdueling protestson Saturday, March 7, was confirmed to be an improvised explosive, according to a preliminary analysis by police.
Two people were in custody after New York City police said they attempted to ignite suspicious homemade devices during a "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" rally led byJake Lang, a 30-year-old far-right conservative influencer. The event drew a large crowd of counterprotesters, and one demonstrator threw an ignited device toward Lang's area, police said.
In astatement on social media, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department's bomb squad conducted a preliminary analysis and determined that the device was not a hoax device or a smoke bomb but an "improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death." She added that further testing will be conducted, including on a second device that was dropped during the confrontation.
Conservative influencer Jake Lang (L) and supporters arrive at a protest in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters.Two people are in custody after reports of suspicious devices near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, police said March 7." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
A person holds a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person holds a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person flees during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person flees during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang against alleged "Islamification" and to ask for a "stop of public Muslim prayer" in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person is detained by police after throwing a suspicious device towards police during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
View of a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person is detained by police after reportedly throwing a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang against in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang arrives at a protest he organized in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash as he arrives at a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A man holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang stands next to a roasted pig during a protest organized by Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Supporters of conservative influencer Jake Lang (facing camera) use pepper spray (C) as they face counter-protesters during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Supporters of conservative influencer Jake Lang (facing camera) use pepper spray (C) as they face counter-protesters during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Suspicious devices reported near NYC mayor home during protest. See the moment
Conservative influencer Jake Lang (L) and supporters arrive at a protest in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters.Two people are in custody after reports of suspicious devicesnear Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, police said March 7.
"Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter," Tisch said in the statement on Sunday, March 8.
Charges against the two counterprotesters were still pending, according to police. Tisch said police were working with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the case.
What happened during the protests outside Gracie Mansion?
New York City police officers were already at the scene at around 11 a.m. local time for the scheduled demonstration near Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence. The "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" rally drew about 20 people to the area, according to Tisch.
The event prompted a larger counterdemonstration, dubbed "Run the Nazis out of New York City," and drew roughly 125 people, Tisch said. Police separated the two groups, but tensions began to escalate shortly before noon.
At around 12:15 p.m. local time, police arrested a person in Lang's area who was accused of using pepper spray against counterprotesters, Tisch said. The person has not been publicly identified by police.
At about 12:38 p.m., a counterprotester, identified as Balat, 18, lit and threw an ignited device toward Lang's area, according to Tisch. The device landed in the crosswalk, struck a barrier, and was extinguished a few feet from the police.
Balat then ran away and allegedly retrieved a second device from another man, identified as Kayumi, 19, Tisch said. Balat started to run with the second device but dropped it, she added.
The two men were taken into custody, and the NYPD bomb squad recovered the two devices, which were both slightly smaller than a football, according to Tisch. Police said there were no injuries or property damage reported in the incident.
Based on preliminary examination and X-ray imaging, she said the devices appeared to be jars wrapped in black tape and filled with nuts, bolts, and screws, Tisch said. The jars also had hobby fuses that could be lit.
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Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation toldCBS Newsthat the two men taken into custody were both from Pennsylvania and had brought the homemade devices to the protests with the intention to cause harm.
The news agency, citing sources, reported that the devices were made of a sports drink bottle that was filled or partially filled with explosive material and placed inside glass jars and surrounded by nuts and bolts. The fuse was apparently connected to an M80-type firework, according to CBS News.
Search warrants were expected to be executed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, sources told the news agency. Investigators were also working to determine if the suspects were inspired by ISIS extremist messaging.
The news agency added that the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, and terrorism charges are pending in the case.
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Mamdani: Protest outside Gracie Mansion 'rooted in bigotry and racism'
Following the protests, Tisch said there was no indication the incident was related to thewar in Iranbut noted that the investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred duringRamadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
In a statement on March 8, Mamdani — who is thefirst Muslim mayorof New York City — condemned the incident and said his office was "closely monitoring" the situation. New York City Hall spokesman Joe Calvello previously confirmed that both Mamdani and New York City first ladyRama Duwajiwere safe, and called the rally led by Lang "despicable and Islamophobic."
"Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism,"Mamdani said in the statement. "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."
"What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable," he added. "The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are."
Lang, along withnearly 1,600 otherswho were charged for their roles in theJan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, was pardoned by PresidentDonald Trumpafter he returned to the White House last year.
Federal prosecutors accused Langof assaulting police at the Capitol using an aluminum baseball bat and a riot shield. Lang recently announced that he is running in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Explosive device thrown near Zohran Mamdani's residence: NYPD
