Two men have been arrested for throwing a pair of “suspicious devices” during a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayor’s official residence. Zoran MamdaniSaturday, March 7. The incident occurred during anti-Islam demonstrations led by conservative influencers just jack There were also counter-protests, NBC News reported.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested following the incident.
Who are Amir Barat and Ibrahim Qayoumi?
According to CBS News, Barratt and Kayumi are both from Pennsylvania. However, they have not yet been charged.
On Sunday, March 8, FBI agents searched the homes of Kayumi in Newtown and Balat in Langhorne, ABC 6 reported. The NYPD said at least one improvised explosive device was deployed during the protest and a search was conducted later. Other devices are currently under investigation.
“Nothing like this has ever happened around here. So it’s pretty scary,” Newtown neighbor Pamela Pulcinelli said.
Residents said they saw agents detain a man outside Kayumi’s home. “He came out with his arms in the air, was handcuffed and put in the van. It was crazy,” Pulcinelli said.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is now taking the lead on the terrorism investigation.
What we know about “suspicious devices”
chief of police jessica table An update was shared following the arrest, saying it was not a hoax after the device was thrown and could have caused “serious injury or death.” Bomb squads examined the devices, which were said to be smaller than a football. Tisch said they look like a can wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts, screws and a hobby fuse.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News the devices consisted of a sports drink bottle filled or partially filled with explosive material, contained in a glass jar and surrounded by debris or nuts and bolts. The fuse was reportedly connected to an M80 type firework.
Two sources told the media that the IED contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a volatile explosive substance. It is usually synthesized from acetone and hydrogen peroxide and appears as a white crystalline powder.
Another suspicious device was found Sunday in a car on East End Avenue about three blocks south of the park where Gracie Mansion is located, the NYPD said. This prompted “a limited evacuation of nearby buildings while bomb squads assessed and defused the device.”
The NYPD later confirmed that the device was subsequently removed for further testing.
