Explosive Device Ignited at Gracie Mansion Protest in NYC

Two men arrested after one of two devices was ignited during dueling protests outside mayor's residence

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A device thrown outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor, during dueling protests on Saturday was confirmed to be an improvised explosive device, according to the NYPD. Two men, an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old, were taken into custody after at least one of two devices was ignited. Further testing found the explosive compound to be triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a volatile homemade explosive.

Why it matters

The incident occurred during an anti-Islam demonstration led by a conservative influencer and a counterprotest outside the mayor's residence, raising concerns about extremism, public safety, and the ability of law enforcement to maintain order during contentious protests in New York City.

The details

Police said the devices were smaller than a football, appearing to be jars wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts, screws and a hobby fuse. One of the devices was ignited by an 18-year-old counterprotester and thrown toward the protest area. The NYPD also found a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue that was safely removed for further testing.

  • The protests began around 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2026.
  • At 12:15 p.m., a protester from the anti-Islam group fired pepper spray at counterprotesters and was arrested.
  • Shortly after 12:30 p.m., an 18-year-old counterprotester 'lit and threw an ignited device toward the protest area.'

The players

Jake Lang

A conservative influencer who organized the anti-Islam demonstration outside Gracie Mansion.

Emir Balat

An 18-year-old man taken into custody in connection with the incident.

Ibrahim Kayumi

A 19-year-old man taken into custody in connection with the incident.

Jessica Tisch

The New York Police Department Commissioner.

Zohran Mamdani

The Muslim mayor of New York City, who was in Gracie Mansion at the time of the incident.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in New York City.”

— Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner (today.com)

“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.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (today.com)

What’s next

Federal and local law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate the incident as a potential act of terrorism, including searching the homes and electronic devices of the two men in custody.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing concerns about extremism, public safety, and the ability of law enforcement to maintain order during contentious protests in New York City. It also underscores the need for vigilance and cooperation between federal, state, and local authorities to address the threat of homemade explosives and potential acts of terrorism.