{"id":157300,"date":"2026-03-08T22:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T22:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/157300\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T22:32:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T22:32:14","slug":"suspicious-device-found-in-vehicle-blocks-from-gracie-mansion-nypd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/157300\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Suspicious device’ found in vehicle blocks from Gracie Mansion: NYPD"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"6 <\/p>\n

NEW YORK – The NYPD<\/a> has found a “suspicious device” in a vehicle on the Upper East Side<\/a> on Sunday, March 8, and is evacuating nearby buildings. The vehicle is being investigated in connection with the explosive devices thrown into the crowd at protests outside Gracie Mansion<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Upper East Side evacuations \"\" <\/p>\n

Why you should care:<\/p>\n

The NYPD announced the discovery around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The NYPD has identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street,” a post on X<\/a> read. “NYPD officers have frozen the area around the vehicle and are conducting limited evacuations of buildings in the vicinity while the Bomb Squad assesses and removes the device.”<\/p>\n

RELATED: Improvised explosive device thrown into crowd during Gracie Mansion protests: NYPD<\/a><\/p>\n

Bomb Squad investigation <\/p>\n

What we know:<\/p>\n

The Bomb Squad began investigating the vehicle around 2 p.m. Video from the scene showed a Bomb Squad robot approaching a black sedan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the reason for the investigation wasn’t immediately clear on Sunday, the NYPD later confirmed that it was tied to the investigation into the improvised explosive devices thrown into the crowd during Saturday’s dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion. The vehicle crews are investigating Sunday is about six blocks away from the mayor’s residence.<\/p>\n

Gracie Mansion protests \"Gracie <\/p>\n

The backstory:<\/p>\n

Two protests broke out outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday. The initial protest, according to the NYPD, was an anti-Islamic demonstration organized by a “far-right provocateur,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. A larger group of counter-protesters also gathered in the area, and tensions rose between the two groups.<\/p>\n

During the protests, NYPD officials said that an 18-year-old man, whom they identified as Emir Balat, threw an improvised explosive device into the crowd. Police said the device was a jar wrapped in tape, filled with nuts, bolts, screws and a fuse. The device never detonated.<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Gracie Mansion protests: Bomb squad investigating 2 ‘ignited devices’ thrown into crowd<\/a><\/p>\n

According to officials, Balat ran from the area, then got another similar device from a man they identified as 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, and tried to run back toward the crowd with it. Balat allegedly dropped the device, and NYPD officers arrested both men.<\/p>\n

Four other people were arrested at Saturday’s protests, including one protester who allegedly sprayed counter-protesters with pepper spray, and three others accused of disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.<\/p>\n

The Source: Information in this story is from the NYPD and previous FOX 5 NY reports.<\/p>\n

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