New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the devices appeared to be jars wrapped in tape and filled with items such as nuts, bolts, and screws, along with what she described as a “hobby fuse.” Officials stated that each device was slightly smaller than a football. Bomb squad specialists were deployed to examine the objects and determine whether they were real explosives or improvised dummy devices.
Police confirmed that six individuals were taken into custody following the unrest. Among those arrested were 18-year-old Emir Balat, who authorities allege threw the devices, and 19-year-old Ibrahim Nikk, who is accused of supplying one of them. Another suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as 21-year-old Ian McGinnis, was detained for allegedly using pepper spray on counterprotesters.
Officials said the exact charges against Balat and Nikk were still under review as investigators continued to analyse the devices. McGinnis was expected to face a charge of reckless endangerment.
Even after the immediate danger subsided, tensions remained high in the neighbourhood. Protesters continued shouting slogans, banging drums, and throwing objects, including food items, while nearby residents and pedestrians sought shelter inside local stores, uncertain about the cause of the unrest.
The protest came amid a broader atmosphere of political tension in the United States, with recent demonstrations and counterprotests in several cities turning confrontational. Lang, who previously participated in the January 6 United States Capitol attack, has been linked to several controversial rallies in recent months.