Arrests Made After Islamic Extremists Toss Nail Bombs At Protesters, Police In NYC

Two suspected Islamic extremists have been arrested for allegedly tossing nail bombs at Christian protesters not far from Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The event unfolded during dueling protests, with one group demonstrating against what they described as the “Islamic Takeover of New York City” or “anti-Islamification,” organized by controversial right-wing activist Jake Lang. That event drew roughly 25 to 30 participants.

A larger group of about 125 counter-protesters gathered in opposition, leading to tensions that escalated into physical altercations. The demonstrations began around 11 a.m. Eastern Time, with initial clashes between the two groups starting not long after.

Approximately 30 minutes after the event started, a man emerged from the group of counter protesters and tossed what appeared to be an explosive device towards Lang’s group. The object landed in a crosswalk near police officers, producing flames and smoke before striking a barrier and extinguishing itself.

The suspect — identified as 18-year-old Amir Balat — then reportedly retrieved a second similar device from a 19-year-old accomplice, lit it, and dropped it along East End Avenue. The devices were described by authorities as smaller than a football, wrapped in black tape, and containing nuts, bolts, screws, and a hobby fuse.

One dramatic photo from the scene shows a device landing close to a group of New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers. Balat also appears to have yelled “Allah Akbar” before tossing the first device.

At the protest outside Gracie Mansion in NYC, a shocking moment was captured on video. In the exact second the incident unfolded, an Arab male can be seen running toward activist Jake Lang while yelling “Allahu Akbar,” holding what appears to be an explosive device before… pic.twitter.com/nyoKTYjEaZ

— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) March 7, 2026

After dropping the second device, Balat attempted to flee the scene before he was tackled by a large contingent of NYPD officers. The department’s bomb squad soon arrived on the scene to defuse the devices and secure the scene.

In total, six individuals were arrested in connection with the unrest, including Balat and his 19-year-old accomplice for handling the devices. The other arrests stemmed from related clashes, such as the use of pepper spray and physical scuffles.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the physical description of the devices while speaking at a press conference on Saturday evening. “Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it traveled through the area before it struck a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers.”

“Mr. Balat then ran southbound on East End Ave. toward E. 86th St. and gets a second device from a man tentatively ID’ed as Ibrahim Nikk, 19 years old. Mr. Balat lights the device and starts running with it before dropping it on the avenue’s west side between E. 86th and E. 87th Streets,” she added.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has also joined the investigation and is investigating the explosive devices as a potential act of terrorism.

No injuries were reported from the devices, though the event caused momentary panic among participants, with some fleeing the area. Lang later posted on social media stating that he had survived an “assassination attempt” by “two Muslim men,” noting that the device landed three feet in front of him.

Lang was previously stabbed and beaten by a mob of leftist agitators while staging a similar protest in Minneapolis.

Mamdani’s NYC. pic.twitter.com/9Z8tqmFHAc

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 8, 2026

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