NYPD confirms suspicious device near Gracie Mansion was non-threatening New York City police have confirmed that a suspicious device discovered near Gracie Mansion was determined to be non-threatening after a swift response by law enforcement. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, following a similar attack days earlier when two men hurled homemade explosives during protests outside the residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Authorities have linked the recent incident to an act of “ISIS-inspired terrorism,” citing a prior attack that left the area under lockdown. The NYPD issued a social media statement emphasizing that the public’s vigilance in reporting the device was critical. “This was an instance of everyday New Yorkers following a clear message: if you see something, say something,” the department posted. Mayor Mamdani echoed this sentiment, thanking officers and bomb squad members for their quick actions in securing the area. He confirmed the device was found in Carl Schurz Park, adjacent to Gracie Mansion, and reiterated that it posed no safety risk. The suspicious device was reported on the Upper East Side, prompting the closure of East End Avenue between East 85th and East 87th Streets, as well as East 86th Street between York Avenue and East End Avenue. Carl Schurz Park was also temporarily closed. While it remains unclear if the incident was connected to Saturday’s protests, the FBI confirmed that a storage unit in Pennsylvania, believed to be linked to the earlier attack, contained explosive residue. Special agents and bomb squads conducted a controlled detonation to ensure public safety, with collaboration from the FBI Philadelphia field office and local agencies. The FBI’s statement highlighted the importance of such measures in mitigating potential threats.#isis #mayor_zohran_mamdani #nypd #gracie_mansion #carl_schurz_park
Two men have been charged with terrorism-related offenses after attempting to detonate homemade explosives outside the New York City mayor’s residence during an anti-Islam protest. The suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, allegedly aimed to carry out an attack inspired by the Islamic State group (IS), with one of them claiming the planned attack would be "even larger" than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Authorities reported that the pair attempted to detonate two explosive devices near Gracie Mansion, the home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. A third bomb was discovered in their vehicle. The incident occurred during a protest, though none of the explosives activated. Footage showed one suspect being detained moments after lighting one of the devices, which failed to explode. Balat and Kayumi face charges including attempting to provide material support to IS and using a weapon of mass destruction. During their arrest, Balat allegedly made statements expressing allegiance to IS and calling for the death of nonbelievers. He also reportedly expressed hope that the attack would surpass the Boston Marathon bombing in scale, despite the 2013 incident resulting in three deaths and hundreds of injuries. In a statement, New York City Police Commissioner Andrea Tisch emphasized the potential devastation of such devices, noting that the explosives used contained triacetone triperoxide—a volatile homemade compound linked to previous terror attacks. She praised officers who responded to the threat, highlighting their bravery in neutralizing the devices without hesitation. The suspects were detained following their first court appearance, where a federal magistrate ordered their continued detention until a hearing on 8 April.#new_york_city #emir_balat #ibrahim_kayumi #mayor_zohran_mamdani #andrea_tisch
