The mayor of New York City has addressed a disturbing incident outside his home after an explosive device was reportedly thrown near the property.
Zohran Mamdani released a statement following an anti-Muslim demonstration held outside Gracie Mansion, where the mayor lives with his wife.
City spokesperson Joe Calvello told NBC News: “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 protest was led by political influencer Jake Lang and promoted under the title ‘Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer’ event.
Reports suggested attendance was limited, with around 25 people said to have shown up. Meanwhile, the counter-demonstration — ‘Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate,’ — was reported to have drawn roughly 125 people.
During the counter-protest, 18-year-old Emir Balat allegedly lit an explosive device and dropped it near officers positioned at the scene.
According to the Daily Mail, he then allegedly obtained a second device from 19-year-old protester Ibrahim Kayumi and dropped it on the west side of East End Avenue.
By the end of the weekend, Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the items were genuine explosives.
On Sunday March 8, the mayor said online: “Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism.
“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.”
Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. 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…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 8, 2026
He then addressed the bombs, stating: “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are. I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe.”
He added: “Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day.”
Later that same day, police said they located a ‘suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street’ — prompting a lockdown of the immediate area and evacuations while the Bomb Squad removed the device.
Tisch said the Bomb Squad concluded the protest device was ‘not a hoax device or a smoke bomb’ and instead was an ‘improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.’
She also confirmed Balat and Kayumi were arrested by the NYPD and remain in custody.
Footage from the counter-protest reportedly shows a man yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ after throwing what Tisch described as a ‘a jar wrapped in tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse.’
Authorities also described a second device as being built from a sports drink bottle, with explosive material inside a glass jar containing a fireworks fuse, along with ‘fragmentation’, according to a law enforcement source speaking to CBS New York.
The FBI said on X of the incident: “FBI New York continues to be engaged with NYPD and all of our law enforcement partners actively investigating the two devices thrown outside Gracie Mansion yesterday afternoon. The FBI and NYPD confirmed the suspicious items to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additionally, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) will be conducting interviews, reviewing videos, collecting evidence, and chasing down all leads. Rest assured, the FBI, NYPD, NYSP, and all our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to ensure this city and its residents are safe.”