Trending Now - Ieds Discovered at NYC Protest Spark Investigation Near Gracie Mansion
WHO:
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the two suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, are believed to be U.S. citizens.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the protest organized by Jake Lang, referring to him as a "vile white supremacist."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch
Right-wing activist Jake Lang
Suspects Emir Balat (18 years old) and Ibrahim Kayumi (19 years old), both from Pennsylvania
NYPD Bomb Squad
FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force
WHAT:
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed on March 8, 2026, that the devices were not hoaxes or smoke bombs but improvised explosive devices (IEDs) capable of causing "serious injury or death."
A third "suspicious device" was found in a vehicle in Manhattan on March 8, 2026, in connection with the investigation.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is conducting interviews, reviewing videos, collecting evidence, and pursuing leads related to the incident.
Approximately 100 counter-protesters gathered at the scene, while about 20 organizers associated with Jake Lang participated in the anti-Muslim protest.
Three additional arrests were made for charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, bringing the total number of arrests to six.
A third "suspicious device" was found in a vehicle in Manhattan in connection with the investigation on March 8, 2026.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the devices were confirmed to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by both the FBI and NYPD.
Tisch described the first device thrown by Balat as having extinguished itself after striking a barrier in a crosswalk, a few feet from police officers.
Balat allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" before igniting and throwing the IED toward the protest area.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is conducting interviews, reviewing videos, collecting evidence, and pursuing leads related to the incident.
A federal terrorism investigation is underway, and terrorism charges are pending against the suspects.
The NYPD's Bomb Squad sent the devices to the FBI's Quantico lab for further analysis.
Approximately 120 counter-protesters gathered at the scene, while about 20 organizers associated with Jake Lang participated in the anti-Muslim protest.
Three additional arrests were made for charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
An improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown during protests near Gracie Mansion.
The NYPD confirmed the device was capable of causing "serious injury or death."
Two suspects were arrested for throwing the IEDs.
Six people were arrested in total during the protests.
The devices were described as jars wrapped in black tape, containing nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse.
One device was ignited and thrown by Balat, and a second device was retrieved from Kayumi.
WHERE:
Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York City, located in Manhattan.
Protests occurred near East End Avenue and East 87th Street.
WHEN:
The incident occurred on March 7, 2026, and the analysis of the devices is ongoing as of March 8, 2026.
The incident occurred on March 7, 2026.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch made a statement on March 8, 2026.
WHY:
Law enforcement sources indicated that the two suspects were allegedly inspired by anger over the anti-Islam protest organized by Jake Lang, who is described as a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer.
Law enforcement sources indicated that the two suspects were allegedly inspired by anger over the anti-Islam protest organized by Jake Lang.
The anti-Islam protest was organized by individuals associated with Jake Lang, who is described as a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer.
The protests were organized by Jake Lang to oppose public Muslim prayer, which was met with counter-protests.
The suspects allegedly intended to cause harm due to anger over the anti-Islam protest.
HOW:
The devices were described as jars wrapped in black tape, slightly smaller than a football, containing nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit.
The devices were described as jars wrapped in black tape, slightly smaller than a football, containing nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit.
The devices were described as sports drink bottles filled with explosive materials, set inside glass jars, and surrounded by fragmentation materials such as nuts and bolts. The fuse was connected to an M80-type firework.
The IEDs were made from sports drink bottles filled with explosive materials and surrounded by fragmentation.
The devices were ignited and thrown during the protests, with one device extinguishing itself after striking a barrier.
(UPDATED March 9, 2026 11:09 UTC)
On March 8, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the suspicious devices found in Manhattan were improvised explosive devices capable of causing serious injury or death, with a third device discovered in a vehicle during the investigation. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is actively pursuing leads, conducting interviews, and collecting evidence related to the incident, which has already led to six arrests, including three for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. Law enforcement sources indicate that the suspects were allegedly inspired by anger over an anti-Islam protest organized by Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer.
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(UPDATED March 9, 2026 03:43 UTC)
A third suspicious device was discovered in a vehicle in Manhattan as part of an ongoing investigation into an incident that occurred last Monday, where two improvised explosive devices were confirmed by both the FBI and NYPD. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that the first device was thrown by a suspect named Balat, who allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" before igniting it and tossing it toward a protest area, while the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is actively pursuing leads and gathering evidence. The devices, described as jars wrapped in black tape and containing nuts, bolts, and screws, were designed with a hobby fuse that could be lit, and law enforcement sources say the suspects were motivated by anger over an anti-Islam protest organized by Jake Lang.
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(UPDATED March 8, 2026 22:59 UTC)
A federal terrorism investigation is underway following an anti-Islam protest on March 7, where two suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, both believed to be U.S. citizens, are facing pending terrorism charges. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the Bomb Squad has sent explosive devices, described as sports drink bottles filled with explosive materials and surrounded by fragmentation materials, to the FBI's Quantico lab for further analysis. Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the protest organized by Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter, and three additional arrests were made for charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
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(UPDATED March 8, 2026 20:59 UTC)
On March 7, 2026, an improvised explosive device was thrown during protests near Gracie Mansion, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, both from Pennsylvania. The NYPD confirmed that the device, capable of causing serious injury or death, was made from sports drink bottles filled with explosive materials and wrapped in black tape, while six people were arrested in total during the protests organized by right-wing activist Jake Lang. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the situation on March 8, highlighting the serious nature of the incident amid tensions surrounding the protests against public Muslim prayer.