Two men from Pennsylvania were arrested outside Gracie Mansion in New York City on Saturday after throwing improvised explosive devices during dueling protests near the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken over the investigation and federal terrorism charges are pending. No injuries were reported. Mayor Mamdani and First Lady were not inside the residence at the time.
What Happened
Two simultaneous protests gathered outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday afternoon on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The first, organized by Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 defendant and far-right influencer, was titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer.” It drew fewer than two dozen participants. The second, a counter-protest titled “Run the Nazis Out of New York City: Stand Against Hate,” drew more than 100 people. Police separated the two groups with barriers, but tensions escalated.
Emir Balat, 18, of Pennsylvania, is accused of throwing the first device toward the protest area. It struck a barrier in a crosswalk and extinguished itself just feet from police officers. Balat then retrieved a second device from Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, also of Pennsylvania, lit it and began running before dropping it. Both were arrested at the scene. A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani confirmed the mayor and first lady were not inside Gracie Mansion at the time. “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 spokesperson said. (NBC New York)
The Devices
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Sunday that at least one of the devices was a genuine improvised explosive device capable of causing serious injury or death. The devices were smaller than a football, described initially as glass jars wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts and screws with a hobby fuse attached. Law enforcement sources later told CBS News the devices were sports drink bottles filled with explosive material set inside those glass jars, with the fragmentation surrounding them. A hobby fuse connected to an M80-type firework served as the ignition mechanism. Law enforcement sources told CBS News the devices contained triacetone triperoxide, a volatile explosive material that appears as a white crystalline powder. The second device remains under further analysis at the FBI’s Quantico laboratory. (CBS News, NYPD)
ISIS Connection Under Investigation
Investigators are examining whether at least one of the suspects was inspired by ISIS extremist messaging. NBC New York reported that one of the two suspects directly referenced ISIS in statements to law enforcement. Investigators are also reviewing the overseas travel of both men. Balat traveled to Istanbul from May to August 2025. Kayumi traveled to Istanbul in the summer of 2024 and to Saudi Arabia in early 2024. Law enforcement has traveled out of state to speak with the relatives of both men. (NBC New York, CBS News)
The NYPD and FBI are conducting interviews with both suspects and reaching out to family members and contacts in Pennsylvania. Search warrants are expected to be executed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Both suspects are believed to be US citizens. (Fox News)
The Full Arrest Count
Six people were arrested in total as a result of Saturday’s protests. Two were arrested for handling and deploying the devices. One was arrested for deploying pepper spray on counter-protesters. Three others were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. (NYPD)
The Response
Mayor Mamdani said in a statement Sunday that the original protest was rooted in bigotry and has no place in New York City. He condemned the use of explosive devices as criminal and reprehensible. NYPD Commissioner Tisch said she was working with the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Tisch noted on Saturday there was no evidence at that time connecting the incident to the Iran conflict, though the investigation remains ongoing. (NBC New York, City and State NY)
Jake Lang, whose protest triggered the counter-demonstration, told amNewYork the device landed approximately three feet in front of him. “I saw the fuse, it was smoking, and I thought my life was over right then and there,” he said. (amNewYork)
Why This Matters to You
Protests are a fundamental part of American democracy. But Saturday’s events outside Gracie Mansion crossed a line that affects everyone, regardless of political views. Two functional explosive devices packed with metal fragmentation were thrown into a crowd of people in a busy New York City neighborhood. Had either fully detonated, the casualties could have been significant on both sides of the protest divide.
The broader question this incident raises is one of public safety at a time of heightened tension. Large public gatherings, whether political protests, community events or public celebrations, depend on law enforcement’s ability to detect and respond to threats before they escalate. It is worth thinking about: Are current security protocols at public protests adequate to detect homemade explosive devices before they are deployed? With the FBI now investigating a possible foreign extremist connection, what does this tell us about the domestic security environment during an active overseas conflict? And with six arrests made across both sides of the protest, what responsibility do organizers of public demonstrations have for the safety of everyone present?
-Elijah Iraheta, Editor in Chief, ASC News
*This story has been updated*
