Zohran Mamdani Targeted: IED Thrown Outside NYC Mayor's Home

Two homemade explosive devices were thrown outside the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on March 7, 2026, during clashing protests on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The FBI has since launched a terrorism investigation, with terrorism charges now pending against the two arrested suspects.

The incident unfolded during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan outside the home of New York City's first Muslim mayor and his wife, Rama Duwaji.

Anti-Muslim Protest at Gracie Mansion

The demonstration was organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang and framed as opposing an "Islamic takeover" and targeting Muslim public prayer during Ramadan. About 20 demonstrators gathered outside the Manhattan residence, while approximately 125 counter-protesters assembled nearby, according to police.

Lang organized a protest titled "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer." Two young men from Pennsylvania brought the homemade bombs to the gathering intending to cause harm, according to law enforcement sources.

Tensions escalated shortly before noon. At around 12:15 p.m., a protester associated with Lang's group used pepper spray against counter-protesters. The first device thrown extinguished itself after striking a barrier in a crosswalk, a few feet from police officers. The suspect then ran away, retrieved a second device from his accomplice, lit it, and started running with it before dropping it.

FBI Terrorism Investigation Launched

Two devices thrown outside the mayor's residence contained explosive materials and fragmentation that could have killed and maimed numerous people, the FBI confirmed late Sunday. A federal terrorism investigation is underway and terrorism charges are pending.

Both devices were constructed with suspected homemade explosive material and fragmentation in the form of nuts, bolts and screws. No injuries were reported.

According to CBS News, law enforcement sources said the devices contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile, unstable explosive material which is often synthesized from acetone and hydrogen peroxide and appears as a white crystalline powder.

The two suspects, both from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, were identified as Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi. FBI agents raided their homes in Newtown and Langhorne, respectively. In total, six people were arrested: the two responsible for the devices, the person who deployed pepper spray, and three others for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.

Mayor Mamdani and Officials Respond

Mamdani called the Lang-organized protest "rooted in bigotry and racism." He added: "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."

The mayor and his wife are safe. Mamdani thanked the NYPD for their quick action.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed and was "grateful there are no reported injuries."

Commissioner Tisch noted there is no indication the incident is related to the ongoing conflict in Iran, but stressed the investigation remains active "given the heightened threat environment."

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is working alongside the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on the case.