New York City police have confirmed that a device thrown during protests outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, Gracie Mansion, on Saturday was an improvised explosive device (IED) capable of causing serious injury or death. The NYPD Bomb Squad’s preliminary analysis found the device — described as a jar wrapped in black tape and packed with nuts, bolts, and screws with a fuse — was not a hoax or simple smoke device. A second similar device recovered at the scene is still being examined. The explosions did not detonate; the first device extinguished itself, and there were no reported injuries or deaths.
The incident occurred amid clashing demonstrations on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A small group of far-right protesters led by activist Jake Lang had gathered outside Gracie Mansion in an anti-Islam rally, which was met by a much larger counter-protest. Police said two men, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested in connection with the explosive devices. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, are assisting the NYPD in the investigation.
Mayor Mamdani condemned both the original far-right protest and the violent escalation, stating that “violence at a protest is never acceptable” and that the attempt to use an explosive was “reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized that there was no immediate connection to international events, such as the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict, though the investigation is continuing.
Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor, has become the focus of heightened security concerns following the incident. Authorities are analyzing forensic evidence from the devices and coordinating with federal terrorism task forces to prevent further threats. The episode highlights the risks posed by politically charged demonstrations and underscores the importance of vigilance during public protests.