Two men were arrested on Saturday for allegedly throwing homemade bomb-like incendiary devices at anti-Muslim protesters in New York City.
A group of around 20 anti-Muslim protesters gathered near Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence, on Saturday afternoon. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is Muslim.
The protest, called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City,” was led by far-right provocateur Jake Lang, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a briefing later Saturday.
Around 125 counter-protesters gathered nearby for a demonstration called “Run the Nazis out of New York City.” There was no indication the incident was related to the ongoing hostilities in Iran, Tisch added.
Tensions escalated between the two groups, and one of the anti-Muslim protesters used pepper spray against one of the counter-protesters and was arrested, Tisch said.
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Shortly after, a suspect threw an “ignited device” toward the anti-Muslim protesters that gave off flames and smoke as it hurtled through the air, Tisch added. The device struck a barrier and went out, a few feet from police.
BREAKING: NYPD ID’S both suspects after attempted bomb attack on outside Gracie Mansion.
Device is Jar wrapped in black tape with NUTS BOLT AND SCREWES and fuse inside.
Video shows second suspect pass bomb along to another,
second suspect being arrested by the NYPD outside… pic.twitter.com/7AITGeggwc
— Oliya Scootercaster ???? (@ScooterCasterNY) March 7, 2026
The assailant fled on foot, then obtained a second incendiary device from another suspect, lit the device, started running and then tossed the device, Tisch said. Video shows one of the suspects shouting “allahu akbar” while being arrested.
WATCH: Suspect seen lighting Home made smoke bomb after Molotov cocktail thrown at Anti-Muslim protest as suspect shouts Allahu Akbar while getting arrested #nyc Gracie Mansion
Videos by @edquinnphoto, @ScooterCasterNY and @yyeeaahhhboiii2 Desk@freedomnews.tv to license pic.twitter.com/4ue4emavS1
— Oliya Scootercaster ???? (@ScooterCasterNY) March 7, 2026
Video also shows the counter-protesters chasing a man down a street and beating him.
Tisch described the devices as jars a “bit smaller than a football,” wrapped in black tape, filled with nuts and bolts, and with a fuse. She said it was unclear whether the devices were functional explosives or hoaxes.
NYC: “Zionist!” crowds chase and shout at a man as he gets kicked on the ground outside Gracie Mansion during anti Islam protest pic.twitter.com/rwN9HK6i4K
— Oliya Scootercaster ???? (@ScooterCasterNY) March 7, 2026
The two suspects were identified as Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Nikk, 19. Balat allegedly threw the devices and Nikk gave him one of them.
The FBI New York said in an X post that its Joint Terrorism Task Force was “actively investigating,” along with New York City Police.
Six people in total were arrested over unrest at the protest, including the two suspects who were detained in connection with the devices, a protester in Lang’s group who used pepper spray against counter-protesters, and three others for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
Lang arrived at the protest with a goat and around 20 supporters, police said, while counterprotesters numbered about 125.
Far-right influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang against alleged ‘Islamification’ in front of Gracie Mansion, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, in New York, March 7, 2026. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
A demonstrator opposed to Lang, teacher Mia Kurzer, 23, told AFP that she “showed up because we have to show that hate has no place in our city.”
“We democratically elected a mayor who is Muslim — and that’s New York. We have different cultures, and we have to celebrate those cultures,” she said.
Kurzer added that “I think [Lang] is an idiot. I think he underestimates the power of the people.”
Tisch said she did not believe Mamdani was home at the time of the demonstrations and the violence.
AFP contributed to this report
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