The New York FBI said that the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the NYPD are actively investigating the incident -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
(Reach Publishing Services Limited)
The FBI announced that the suspicious devices recovered in New York City today near the mayor’s home would be investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
On X, @NewYorkFBI wrote, “During a rally earlier this afternoon, two suspicious items were recovered from the property of Gracie Mansion. The FBI New York’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the New York City Police Department quickly responded and are actively investigating this matter.”
“While there is no threat to public safety, the FBI and the NYPD remain vigilant. If you see something suspicious, notify local authorities or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Six people were arrested after a smoke-generating device was thrown by a counterprotester during a far-right, anti-Muslim protest outside the residence of Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, authorities said.
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About 20 organisers “associated with far-right provocateur Jake Lang” took part in the protest while 120 counterprotesters gathered outside Gracie Mansion, where the mayor lives with his wife, Rama Duwaji, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters.
The suspicious device was thrown by an 18-year-old counterprotester, Tisch said. “Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it traveled through the air before it struck a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers.”
Shortly after, the suspect grabbed a second device from another 19-year-old suspect, lit it, and ran with it before dropping it, Tisch said. The commissioner said both suspects were arrested.
The devices were recovered near Gracie Mansion -Credit:Getty Images
Tisch described the two devices as what appeared to be “a jar wrapped in black tape, with nuts, bolts and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit.”
“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,” the commissioner said.
Four other individuals were arrested at the scene, including one who deployed pepper spray. The others were arrested for disorderly conduct and blocking traffic, Tisch said.
Jake Lang is a right-wing agitator who was pardoned for charges tied to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He has held similar rallies in recent weeks and hosted an anti-immigration protest in Minneapolis in January, in the days following the killing of Renee Good, the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by a federal immigration officer, prompting national outrage.
Following the incident this afternoon, Lang posted on X, writing, “I just survived an assassination attempt by these two Muslim men; The homemade bomb they threw landed 3 feet in front of me. The detonator failed to ignite, because God is on the throne of my life. We will never surrender to Islam.”