Six individuals have been detained for allegedly launching smoking projectiles filled with bolts and screws outside the residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an anti-Muslim demonstration. The incident occurred during a demonstration organized by far-right activist Jake Lang, where tensions escalated on Saturday. Mayor Mamdani and his wife were not present at the home during the protest.
The demonstration, held under the banner “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City,” was attended by about 20 individuals, including Lang’s supporters wearing American flag-themed attire. Counterprotesters, numbering over 100, gathered nearby, leading to heated exchanges and confrontations between the two groups. Violence erupted when pepper spray was used, causing chaos and physical altercations among the protesters.
Witnesses reported that a counterprotester threw two smoking objects into the area, one of which briefly caught fire, prompting panic among the crowd. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch revealed that the devices resembled jars wrapped in tape and filled with nuts, bolts, screws, and a “hobby fuse,” with bomb squad specialists examining them. Six individuals, including Emir Balat and Ibrahim Nikk, were arrested in connection with the incident.
Tensions persisted in the neighborhood even after the situation calmed down, with protesters continuing to shout slogans and throw objects while residents sought refuge in local stores. The protest unfolded against a backdrop of heightened political tensions in the United States, with recent demonstrations turning confrontational in various cities. Lang, known for his involvement in the Capitol attack, has been associated with controversial rallies in recent months.
