Zahran Mamdani
Authorities in New York City are investigating whether explosive devices thrown during a protest near Mayor Zahran Mandani’s residence were part of an ISIS-inspired act of terrorism, the city’s police commissioner said Monday, according to the Associated Press news agency.The devices, which did not explode, were thrown during tense counter-protests on Saturday near Gracie Mansion, where demonstrators gathered for a “Stop Islamist Takeover of New York City” rally led by far-right activist Jake Lange.
An explosive device was found outside Zahran Mamdani’s home in New York City; The FBI is investigating terrorism charges
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the explosives, which contained nuts, bolts, nails and an electrical fuse, could have caused serious injuries or deaths if they had exploded.Tesh said in a press conference that two people had been detained for their alleged involvement in the incident, although they have not yet been charged.
Authorities are working with federal prosecutors and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force as part of the investigation.“I can confirm this morning that this is being investigated as an ISIS-inspired act of terrorism,” Tesch said.She added that investigators did not find any connection to Iran or the ongoing conflict abroad.“At this time, we do not have any information linking this investigation to what is happening abroad in Iran,” Tesch said.
According to police, the sparsely attended demonstration attracted a much larger group of opposition demonstrators. During the confrontation, one person allegedly threw a smoking object filled with metal fragments into the crowd. The device went out on its own a few steps away from the police officers. The same person then dropped a second device that apparently did not catch fire.Separately, authorities said they discovered a suspicious package inside a car on East End Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets on Saturday.
Several nearby streets were closed and buildings evacuated before police removed the Honda Civic from the area using a flatbed truck. The streets were later reopened.Lange, who organized the demonstration, had previously been charged with assault on a police officer, civil disorder and other crimes related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but was released under a blanket pardon order issued by President Donald Trump. He has since announced his plans to run for the US Senate in Florida.Earlier this year, Lange also organized a rally in Minneapolis in support of Trump’s anti-immigration campaign, which sparked large counter-protests that forced the event to disperse.
