New York City’s Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke his silence on Sunday, one full day after protesters shouting “Allahu Akbar” tossed two homemade devices into a crowd, after the New York Police Department’s bomb squad confirmed that the devices were, in fact, lethal.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a statement on Sunday declaring that the first device had been determined to be a lethal improvised explosive device (IED), and that further studies would be done to determine whether the same could be said of the second device.
“The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb,” Tisch stated. “It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”
Tisch said that the second device was still under investigation, and that “further analysis” was necessary.
“Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter,” Tisch continued. “The NYPD is working on this investigation with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI through our Joint Terrorism Task Force. I want to again thank the brave members of the NYPD who ran towards the danger without hesitation and quickly apprehended the suspects.”
Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani also released a statement attempting to split the blame between the suspected bombers and the protesters they’d targeted.
“Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism,” Mamdani complained. “Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are.”
“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,” he continued. “I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day. My administration is closely monitoring the situation and I remain in close contact with our Police Commissioner.”
There were two simultaneous and oppositional protests taking place in front of Gracie Mansion — one, led by January 6th defendant Jake Lang, was titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” and drew a crowd of less than two dozen. The second protest, which drew over 100, was labeled “Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate.”
The two groups clashed despite being separated by law enforcement, resulting in one from Lang’s protest being arrested for using pepper spray against protesters from the other group. Tensions escalated further when Balat and Kayumi were arrested in connection with the homemade bombs.
