FBI says devices found near NYC mayor's home after protest

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(The Center Square) — Two Pennsylvania men are in custody and federal authorities are investigating a possible link to ISIS-inspired terrorism after explosive devices were found near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's home this weekend following a right-wing protest.  

Emir Balat, 18, and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, both from Pennsylvania, were arrested by authorities Sunday after the protest but have yet to be charged, according to the New York City Police Department. Both of their homes were searched by FBI agents and other authorities.

The arrests stem from Saturday's “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" protest outside Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, organized by Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer, according to the NYPD. 

The anti-Mamdani demonstration was met by a larger group of more than 100 counterprotesters who gathered for an event called "Run the Nazis Out of New York City/Stand Against Hate." 

At a Monday briefing, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters that Balat tossed an improvised explosive device into the crowd of protesters on Saturday and ran away. The device didn't go off, but Tisch said it could have "caused serious injury or death" if it had detonated. 

Tisch said both suspects will be arraigned in federal court in Manhattan Monday, but said there were details she couldn't discuss to the nature of the ongoing investigation. She said the case was being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism, and pointed out that one of the devices included a chemical that has been used in IED attacks throughout the world. 

"A complaint will set forth criminal charges and the factual allegations supporting those charges," Tisch said. 

The FBI said its Joint Terrorism Task Force posted on social media that it is helping the NYPD investigate and said "while there is no threat to public safety, the FBI and the NYPD remain vigilant." 

Mamdani and his wife weren't home when it happened, but he issued a statement saying the protest was "rooted in bigotry and racism” and that "hate has no place in New York City." 

“What followed was even more disturbing,” Mamdani said. “Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”

During Monday's briefing Mamdani said he is used to discrimination as the city's first Muslim mayor but says he believes that the right-wing protesters have a right to demonstrate. 

Anti-Muslim bigotry is not new to me, and it's not anything new to the 1 million or so Muslim New Yorkers who know this city as our home," he said. "While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be able to happen. This is a free society."