Counterprotester Throws Improvised Explosive Device at Jake Lang Anti-Islam Rally in New York

A clash outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan on Saturday involved a small far-right, anti-Muslim rally and a larger counterprotest, and officials say an improvised explosive device was thrown and ignited during the confrontation.

“Police arrested the suspects who allegedly used the smoking devices and the one who used pepper spray, and three additional people were charged with disorderly conduct and blocking traffic, Tisch said”

ABC News

Multiple outlets reported the two gatherings converged around noon, describing roughly 20 people at a "Stop the Islamic Takeover" rally and about 120-125 counterprotesters.

ABC News

Authorities said smoke-generating or smoking projectiles were lit or handled, six people were arrested, and no injuries were reported; local and federal investigators immediately opened inquiries into the incident.

Multiple law-enforcement agencies and bomb-squad personnel examined the objects and described them as jar-style devices packed with shrapnel materials and a hobby-type fuse.

Preliminary examinations concluded at least one device was not a hoax and "could have caused serious injury or death."

ABC7 Los Angeles

Reports describe jars wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts and screws and fitted with a hobby fuse.

Officials sent samples or devices to federal labs for further testing.

Some outlets cited bomb-squad and federal lab work that reached similar conclusions about the devices' dangerous potential.

Authorities detained multiple people at the scene, including two young men accused of handling the devices, but reporting differs on one of the suspects' surnames.

“Local and federal authorities are investigating after dueling protests near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan on Saturday resulted in multiple arrests and the deployment of suspicious smoke-generating devices”

ABC7 New York

Several outlets identified an 18-year-old as Emir Balat and a 19-year-old as Ibrahim (variously reported as Nikk or Kayumi).

Other arrests included a person accused of using pepper spray and additional charges for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, bringing the total arrests to six.

Prosecutors and investigators were continuing to review evidence and consider charges.

Federal authorities, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, joined the NYPD in the investigation.

At least some detainees were held in federal custody as agents probed possible terrorism links.

ABC7 New York

Multiple reports said the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was assisting and that the NYPD Bomb Squad forwarded devices to federal labs for analysis.

Investigators were treating the incident as a possible act of terrorism while continuing to gather evidence.

The rally’s organizer, Jake Lang, and the political context drew sharp condemnation from city officials, and coverage noted Lang’s controversial past.

“Google’s “Before you continue” notice tells users it uses cookies and other data to operate and protect services (e”

AOL

Outlets described Lang as a far-right influencer with Jan. 6-related convictions who received clemency from Donald Trump.

Associated Press

Officials called the protest Islamophobic.

Reports differed on whether Mayor Zohran Mamdani was at Gracie Mansion during the incident, with some accounts saying the mayor and his wife were not at home.

At least one report said Mamdani was inside and later thanked law enforcement and condemned the violence as reprehensible.

No injuries were widely reported.