NEW YORK — Suspicious homemade devices were ignited and thrown at Zohran Mamdani’s mansion, his official residence, prompting multiple arrests amid increased protests in Manhattan while drawing the attention of federal investigators.
New York Police were quick to respond as tensions boiled over between a small anti-Islam demonstration and a broader counterprotest taking place near Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side. The suspicious devices, described by authorities to be jars wrapped in black tape containing bolts, screws, and fuses, produced smoke and flames but caused no damage or injury.
The New York Police Department bomb squad, accompanied by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force initially announced analysis of the devices over the weekend. However, updated statements by the New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch have now confirmed that the devices used were in fact,Improved Explosive Devices (IED’s), used to cause serious injury or death.
What all happened?
The incident unfolded shortly after noon on Saturday, March 7, 2025 during a scheduled anti-Islam rally organized by activist Jake Lang, who promoted the event as a protest against what is being described as an “Islamic Takeover” of New York City. Shortly after it began, counterprotestors quickly outnumbered the original congregation, leading to tense confrontations that prompted police interdiction.
Local authorities reported that one or more counterprotestors then lit and threw devices towards the anti-Islam group. Two men identified, Emir (or Amir) Balat, was taken into custody along with Ibrahim Kayumi, in connection with the devices. Overall, six individuals were arrested, including those cited for disorderly conduct and other protest-related skirmishes.
New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided a public description of the objects at a Saturday evening briefing. She outlined that each device was slightly smaller than the size of a football and appeared consistent with authorities’ description of tape-wrapped jars filled with metal hardware. As of Saturday evening, Tisch emphasized that testing was ongoing to determine the presence of any energetic material.
On Sunday morning, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch posted on X to confirm that the analysis conducted confirmed the devices to be Improvised Explosive Devices. She also reiterated that these were not intended to be used as a hoax or smoke bomb, and were intended for use to cause serious injury or death. Both individuals mentioned, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, remain in custody after being arrested during the incident yesterday.
Mayor Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duqaji, were confirmed to be safe at the time of the incident taking place, according to a statement from the mayor’s office. The City Hall did not immediately confirm as to the couple’s location during the time potential IEDs were thrown at their residence.
Note: New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed in her posting, that analysis on the second device is still underway.
Sanctuary Struggles In Mamdani Land
These events carry an eerie resonance in Maine, as Mayor Mamdani was a graduate of the 2014 Bowdoin College in Brunswick, majoring in Africana studies and co-founding the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.
[Related: NYT: ‘NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani Honed His Radical Racist Dogma At Bowdoin College’]
Touted as the city’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani has long been associated with extremely progressive policies, including strong advocacy for Palestinian rights. His recent election and position in public office have both drawn support and direct opposition, clearly evident under explicit focus on Saturday’s incident.
Meanwhile, the Mamdani administration has yet to call the violent attack against their own mayor an official act of terrorism, underscoring the systemic issues that spark these events.
