NYPD arrests 18-year-old after ‘ignited device’ thrown near Gracie Mansion, commissioner says
New York Police Department officers subdued and arrested an 18-year-old counter-protester Saturday after he allegedly lit and threw an “ignited device” near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
The FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is working with the NYPD on the investigation, Tisch said, and officials have reported no threat to public safety.
The incident occurred as two demonstrations converged near East End Avenue and East 87th Street. Tisch said an initial rally organized by people associated with pardoned Jan. 6 rioter Jake Lang drew about 20 participants, while a counter-protest she described as “Run the Nazis out of New York City: Stand Against Hate” peaked at roughly 125 people.
Tisch said tensions rose shortly before noon when a protester associated with Lang used pepper spray against counter-protesters. About 30 minutes later, Tisch said, a counter-protester identified as 18-year-old Emir Balat threw an “ignited device” that landed in the crosswalk at East 87th Street and East End Avenue. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke before the object hit a barrier and went out. Tisch said Balat ran, retrieved a second device from 19-year-old Ibrahim Nikk, lit it and dropped it before officers arrested both men. Three additional arrests were made for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, Tisch said.
Bomb squad crews examined the devices, which Tisch said were slightly smaller than a football and appeared to be jars wrapped in black tape. X-rays showed nuts, bolts and screws and a hobby fuse. “We do not yet know whether the devices were functional improvised explosive devices or hoax devices, because we don’t yet know if there was energetic material contained in them,” Tisch said. Both items were placed in a total containment vessel for further testing, and officers conducted manual and K-9 sweeps of nearby blocks; Tisch said no additional devices had been found as of Saturday evening. She added she believes the mayor and his family were not home and that she has been in regular communication with him about the situation.
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