NYPD Says Emir Balat Threw IED Near Mayor Mamdani’s Home; Authorities Arrest Bucks County Teens

Two Bucks County teenagers were arrested on March 7 after an improvised explosive device was ignited and thrown during a clash outside the mayoral residence in New York City.

“The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has said that an “improvised explosive device” was thrown during a protest outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home, with two men taken into custody”

Al Jazeera

Sources say the incident occurred near Gracie Mansion amid a small anti‑Muslim demonstration and a much larger counter‑protest.

Al Jazeera

Authorities reported roughly 20 rally participants and about 125 counterprotesters were present.

Authorities described the thrown device as an IED and confirmed arrests at the scene.

Police identified the two suspects as Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19.

Police said Balat lit and threw a device before attempting to obtain a second one from Kayumi, and both were detained.

Mint

Law enforcement described the devices as jars wrapped in black tape, packed with nuts, bolts and screws, and fitted with hobby fuses.

The Bomb Squad's preliminary analysis found the items were not a hoax.

Officials said the items were capable of causing serious injury or death.

Federal and local authorities have opened a broad investigation.

“New York police say device thrown near anti-Islam protest was explosive FBI investigates after two suspicious devices were thrown near a protest led by a far-right influencer opposed to public Muslim prayer A home-made explosive thrown near anti-Islam protesters outside the New York mayor’s home was a viable device “that could have caused serious injury or death”, police said on Sunday”

South China Morning Post

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are involved.

A bomb-squad preliminary analysis confirmed the device was an IED rather than a hoax.

Officials said the episode prompted a terrorism probe and a court-authorized search.

At least six people were arrested in the wider disturbance.

Charges in the case were reported as pending.

The incident occurred during a protest organized by a far-right influencer whose name appears inconsistently across outlets: some reports identify the organizer as Jake Lang while another calls him Jerry Lang.

One outlet says the leader has framed the demonstrations as opposing the 'Islamification' of New York City.

TAG24

The same outlet reports he was arrested over the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, was later pardoned, and that city officials have labeled him a 'white supremacist'.

Authorities said there were no reported injuries or property damage from the devices.

“Bucks County arrested outside NYC mayor's mansion after IED ignited - Two Bucks County teens were arrested during a clash between protesters in New York City”

USA TODAY

Local officials sought to reassure the community, and a school district confirmed an arrestee is a student but said there was no known threat to schools.

USA TODAY

City leaders condemned the use of violence at protests, and a mayoral statement called the attempt to use an explosive device 'reprehensible.'