Improvised explosive device was thrown during dueling protests outside NYC mayor's home: Police
Two men accused of throwing the devices claimed to have watched ISIS videos.
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two teenagers from Pennsylvania are likely to face serious Federal charges after bringing real, improvised explosive devices to Gracie Mansion.
It all started around noon on Saturday when a far-right group of about 20 protesters were met by roughly 125 counter-protesters. Tensions quickly escalated and violence broke out.
The two teens, identified as Emir Balat, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, are accused of throwing and igniting two objects, one of which was confirmed to be a bomb.
By Sunday night, bomb experts removed another suspicious device from a car and away from the Upper East Side neighborhood - the next step is to determine if this, too, was a bomb. The FBI is joining the investigation.
Neighbors nearby on the Upper East Side watched with curiosity as a robot maneuvered around a black Honda, eventually shattering windows to access what was inside. The bomb squad scanned the car.
Sonia Rincon has more:
Those with apartment windows on lower floors closest to the car were asked to get out and stay at a distance.
"I'd rather be evacuated for however long it takes than potentially be in the midst of this," said Kristina Kuzmina.
"Once they isolated the device and got the bomb disposal unit here, they did another final sweep in the area before letting people back in," said assembly member Alex Bores.
As they returned, they learned that the car was connected to the tense protest and counterprotest they overheard Saturday outside Gracie Mansion.
It was a tense weekend after two opposing demonstrations clashed and quickly resorted to violence. According to investigators, known agitator Jake Lang organized a "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" protest with about 20 people. The counter-protest with "Run the Nazis out of New York City's Stand Against Hate Group," had about 125 participants.
Hostilities quickly eclipsed debate and a woman was pepper sprayed and a man was punched and kicked. Then, officials say a bomb was thrown at the first group but landed in the crosswalk.
"It is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Officials report the teen who threw the IED tried to get another device from the second teen, but both were quickly arrested. Authorities believed they watched ISIS videos at home. The FBI arrived at their homes in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
"That's what's scary. They could have been making a bomb at home, across from our home," said a suspect's neighbor, Pamela Pulsinelli.
The two men will likely face Federal charges. Tests are now being done at the second device at the scene and the third device found on Sunday to determine if they are IEDs as well.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was home at Gracie Mansion at the time and issued a statement on Sunday saying,
"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."
Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch have scheduled a news conference for Monday morning.
The car the suspect used to drive to New York City has since been towed away. Eyewitness News has learned that there were even more materials in the vehicle to make more bombs.
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