New York City police said that during the demonstration clashed outside the Gracie Mansion in the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Saturday (March 7), someone threw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into the crowd, and the authorities are investigating this incident as a terrorist act inspired by the extreme organization ISIS.
Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch held a press conference outside Gracie Mansion on Monday, briefing on the demonstration called “Stop Islamic Takeover of New York City” that took place outside the mayoral residence last Saturday. The mayor pointed out that the event had elements of white supremacy and was filled with anti-Muslim hate speech.
Mamdani stated that although he found the protest “extremely repugnant,” as a free society, the right to peaceful protest must be protected. “I will defend this right every day, even if the protesters express views that I abhor,” he said.
Police said that during the clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators, two men threw two homemade explosive devices into the crowd.
Commissioner Tisch confirmed during the press conference that after preliminary analysis by the New York Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit and FBI technicians, it was determined that the devices were not hoaxes or smoke bombs but genuine explosive devices that could have caused serious casualties.
One of the devices contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly unstable homemade explosive that has been used in multiple terrorist attacks.
Fortunately, the devices did not detonate successfully, so there were no casualties.
The police arrested two suspects, Amir Balat and Ibrahim Kay Yi. The two individuals traveled from Pennsylvania to New York in an attempt to incite violence at the demonstration site.
Footage released by the police showed the two individuals throwing explosive devices towards the protesting crowd.
The case is now being investigated by a joint FBI counterterrorism team and will be prosecuted by federal prosecutors at the Manhattan federal court.
During the subsequent investigation, a third suspicious device was found in a vehicle between East End Avenue and 81st Street and 82nd Street.
As a precaution, the police evacuated several nearby buildings. Once the bomb disposal unit safely removed the device, residents were allowed to return home.
Tisch stated, “I can confirm today that this incident is being investigated as a case of terrorism inspired by ISIS.”
Mamdani emphasized that violence from either protesters or counter-protesters will not be tolerated. “Anyone trying to bring violence to the streets of New York will be held accountable under the law,” he said.
The mayor also commended the swift actions of the on-site officers, who bravely intervened in the crisis, protected the public, apprehended suspects, and brought the situation under control, preventing further escalation.