Trending Now - Two Men Arrested in Connection With Isis-related Explosives Near NYC Mayor's Home

WHO:

Emir Balat, 18 years old

Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 years old

Jessica Tisch, New York City Police Commissioner

Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor

Jake Lang, far-right activist and organizer of the anti-Islam demonstration

Mark D. Levine, New York City Comptroller

Brian Fitzpatrick, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania

Eric Adams, former New York City Mayor

Kathy Hochul, New York Governor

WHAT:

Two men were arrested in connection with explosives thrown during protests outside Gracie Mansion.

The explosives were identified as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that did not explode.

Six people were arrested in total during the incident, including one for using pepper spray.

The counter-protest involved approximately 125 people, while the anti-Islam demonstration had about 20 participants.

Police Commissioner Tisch stated that the explosives incident is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.

WHERE:

Gracie Mansion, official residence of the New York City Mayor, located in New York City.

Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, where a home was searched.

Newtown, Pennsylvania, where a separate federal investigation is underway.

WHEN:

The incident occurred on Saturday, March 7th, 2026.

The arrests were made on Monday, March 9th, 2026.

The explosives were thrown during protests at approximately 11:40 a.m. on March 7th, 2026.

WHY:

The incident was motivated by anti-Islam sentiments, as indicated by the nature of the protests.

Mayor Mamdani stated that Balat and Kayumi "traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City."

HOW:

The explosives were thrown during a chaotic scene involving counter-protesters and anti-Islam demonstrators.

The NYPD Bomb Squad conducted a preliminary analysis of the devices, determining they were not hoax devices and could have caused serious injury or death.

(UPDATED March 9, 2026 17:18 UTC)

On Saturday, March 7, two men were arrested in connection with explosives thrown during protests outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City Mayor, with the explosives identified as improvised explosive devices that did not detonate. The incident, which involved about 125 counter-protesters and 20 anti-Islam demonstrators, led to a total of six arrests, including one individual for using pepper spray, and is being investigated by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism. Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed that the suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, traveled from Pennsylvania with the intent to incite violence in New York City.