NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Six people were arrested Saturday after suspicious devices were ignited or thrown during clashing protests outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to the New York Police Department. No injuries were reported, and authorities said they are still working to determine whether the devices were functional improvised explosive devices or hoaxes.
The incident unfolded during dueling demonstrations near East End Avenue and East 87th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the initial protest, associated with far-right provocateur Jake Lang, drew about 20 participants under a banner opposing what organizers called the “Islamic takeover” of New York City. A counterprotest, titled “Run the Nazis Out of New York City,” drew roughly 125 people. Police said officers separated the groups as tensions escalated.
According to police, around 12:30 p.m., an 18-year-old counterprotester lit and threw a device near the protest area. Authorities said a second 19-year-old then handed over another similar device. Fox 5 and CBS New York, both citing NYPD, reported that the devices were jars wrapped in black tape and filled with nuts, bolts, screws and a hobby fuse. Investigators have not yet determined whether the items were functional explosive devices.
Four other arrests were also reported in connection with the broader unrest, including allegations of pepper spray use, disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. ABC News reported that police sources described the anti-Muslim demonstration as being organized by a “known agitator.”
Viral social media posts quickly labeled the incident an “assassination attempt” on Mamdani. But as of Saturday night, the reporting reviewed by Diya TV showed NYPD and local outlets describing the episode as a suspicious-device investigation tied to protest violence outside the mayor’s residence, not as a formally confirmed assassination attempt. Officials also said it was not immediately clear whether Mamdani or First Lady Rama Duwaji were inside Gracie Mansion when the incident occurred.
Footage from the scene circulated widely online, including video credited to ScooterCasterNY and FreedomNewsTV. Additional images published by ABC News and other outlets showed a device being passed between individuals and then thrown near the protest area, lending support to the basic timeline of the incident even as key investigative questions remain unresolved.
The NYPD Bomb Squad took custody of the devices for further testing, and police said they were continuing to search the area for any additional hazards. As of the latest public updates, no other devices had been found.
