Explosive Protests at Gracie Mansion

During dueling protests in New York City on Saturday, March 7, 2026, a makeshift explosive device was thrown, according to police.

Arrests & Response

Two men were taken into police custody after the device was ignited during the anti-Islam protest led by conservative influencer Jake Lang and a counterdemonstration outside Gracie’s Mansion, home of the New York City mayor.

The two men are in federal custody and are being questioned by federal agents and the NYPD, according to a spokesperson for the FBI.

The incident is being investigated by federal and local law enforcement as a potential act of terrorism in part because one of the suspects in custody directly referenced ISIS in comments made to law enforcement, according to multiple people familiar with the issue who spoke with NBC News.

At the time of the incident, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was inside the home.

In an X post, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter.”

She added that both devices were undergoing further testing.

After the arrests, Mamdani thanked law enforcement officers for acting quickly and on Sunday said he was working closely with Tisch on the case.

The Muslim mayor referredto Lang as a “white supremacist” and asserted his protest was “rooted in bigotry.” He added that type of hatred “has no place in New York City.”

“What followed was even more disturbing. 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,” Mamdani added.

Explosive Protest Event

The demonstration organized and led by Lang outside Gracie Mansion was named “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer.” The protest event drew a crowd of approximately 20 people, according to police.

The counterprotest, however, had a peak number of roughly 125 people.

Both groups had separate areas designated by the police when they began at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

One of the demonstrators from Lang’s group fired pepper spray at counterprotesters and was arrested, according to Tisch. That occurred at 12:15 p.m. Shortly after 12:30 p.m., an 18-year-old counterdemonstrater “lit and threw an ignited device toward the protest area.”

The Men Arrested

Both of the men in federal custody are from Pennsylvania. Investigators spoke with relatives and contacts in their home state, according to NBC News, who spoke with sources familiar with the investigation.

Two sources stated they expected both of the men’s homes to be searched as well as the explosive devices.

This is the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset. It is meant to be a time of reflection and spiritual connection in commemoration of when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

Sources:

NBC News: Device ignited at Gracie Mansion potest was an improvised explosive, NYPD says
The Hill: Device ignited at Gracie Mansion protest was explosive: NYPD
CNN: Device hurled near NYC mayor’s mansion was an IED that could have caused ‘serious injury or death,’ NYPD says

Featured Image Courtesy of Thomas Hawk’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License