Anti-Islam demonstration in New York | Police examine ‘explosive device’ thrown into crowd

(New York) An explosive device thrown near an anti-Islam demonstration in front of the residence of New York’s first Muslim mayor was “functional” and “could have caused serious injuries or even death,” police said on Sunday.

Two suspicious devices were thrown on Saturday on the sidelines of this demonstration by a man wearing a hooded sweater, visibly opposed to the demonstrators.

According to an AFP journalist present at the scene, the individual shouted “Allah Akbar” (“God is greatest”).

American counterterrorism police have opened an investigation. One of the machines was found to be functional while the other was still being tested.

“The NYPD Bomb Squad conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and used at a protest yesterday and determined that it was not a fake device or smoke bomb. This is an improvised explosive device,” police wrote in a statement.

The demonstration took place at the call of far-right influencer Jake Lang, known for his ultraconservative and Islamophobic positions, to fight against “Islamization” and Muslim prayers in public in New York.

Protesters gathered in front of the residence of the new Democratic mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who took office on 1^er January and is the first Muslim city councilor.

According to New York police chief Jessica Tisch, everything suggests that he was not at home at the time of the demonstration which brought together around 20 people, according to the police, and around 125 counter-protesters.

Suspects arrested

The main suspect, identified as Amir Balat, 18, and an alleged accomplice were arrested along with four other people in connection with these incidents, said M^me Tisch during a press briefing.

“Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke” coming from the first machine, explained Jessica Tisch.

“Mr. Balat then (…) received a second explosive device from the hands of a man” and after lighting it, he “started running with it then dropped it,” she detailed.

He and the other man were arrested moments later by police who had been deployed in force at the protest.

In the ranks of demonstrators hostile to the rally, Mia Kurzer, a 23-year-old teacher, explained to AFP that she had come to show that “hate has no place in our city”.

“We democratically elected a Muslim mayor, and that’s New York. We have different cultures, and we should welcome that,” she said, adding: Jake Lang “is an idiot” and “he underestimates the power of people.”

There is no indication that the incident is linked to the war in the Middle East, stressed the New York police chief.