Explosives Thrown During Protest Near New York Mayor’s Residence

New York City police arrested two individuals on Saturday following an incident where makeshift explosive devices were thrown during a protest near the residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The protest involved a far-right demonstration met by counter-protesters, resulting in unrest and multiple arrests.

Incident Details

According to New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, two individuals were arrested for handling and igniting improvised explosives . The devices, described as being smaller than a football and contained nuts, bolts, and screws with a lit wick, were thrown during a clash between demonstrators and counter-protesters.

One device was thrown towards a group of demonstrators, including far-right influencer Jake Lang, although another was dropped near police officers. Tisch stated that the devices struck a barrier and extinguished themselves a few feet from the officers .

The arrested suspect, identified as Amir Balat, 18, reportedly shouted “Allah Akbar” during the incident .

Protest Context

The initial demonstration was organized by a group protesting against “Islamization” and Muslims, taking place in front of the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor . Approximately 20 people participated in the far-right demonstration, while around 125 people joined a counter-protest.

Scuffles broke out between the two groups, and pepper spray was reportedly used against counter-protesters before the explosive devices were thrown .

NYPD Response and Investigation

The NYPD deployed a significant number of officers to the scene and made a total of six arrests. Commissioner Tisch indicated that the investigation is ongoing to determine if the devices contained explosive materials .

Mia Kurzer, a 23-year-old counter-protester, stated that she came to demonstrate that “hate has no place in our city” and to celebrate the diversity of New York City .

Recent NYPD Leadership

Jessica Tisch has served as the 48th New York City Police Commissioner since November 2024. Prior to this role, she was Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation from 2022 to 2024, and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications from 2019 to 2022 . She also held the position of Deputy Commissioner for Information Technology at the NYPD from 2014 to 2019 .