BREAKING: NYPD says IED attack by Islamists near Gracie Mansion is being investigated as ‘ISIS-inspired terrorism’

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani outside Gracie Mansion on Monday morning to address the violence carried out by counter-protesters on Saturday. Tisch announced that the IED attack is being "investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism." 

The analysis of the devices that were recovered at the scene reveal that they "were not hoax devices, nor smoke bombs. They were improvised explosive devices that could have caused injury or death." Investigators also discovered that an "energetic substance" was used in two of the devices. One of them contained triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP. Tisch said that this is a highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in attacks globally. A vehicle tied to the suspects, with New Jersey plates, was found and that contained another device "consistent" with the other two devices. This device was not explosive.

When asked as to the basis for the ISIS-inspired terrorism investigation or whether the incident had any connection to the recently undertaken war in Iran, Tisch said that "at this time, we do not have any information that connects this investigation to what's going on overseas in Iran." As for the basis for the terror investigation, Tisch did "not want to say anything that could introduce prejudice into the prosecution or do anything that would make the prosecutor's jobs more difficult."

She said that the complaint is expected to be unsealed on Monday afternoon and that at that time she would be able to give more details. Two men, ages 18 and 19, were arrested at the scene after being identified by police as suspects in the bomb throwing incident. Three incendiary devices were recovered at the scene. 

Mamdani and his wife were not home at the time, having known about the protest over a week prior to its occurrence. The couple went to the New York City Sign Museum in Brooklyn and stayed abreast of the situation via updates from the NYPD. 

Speaking to reporters, Mamdani downplayed the counter-protesting bomb throwers and condemned the protest itself. He said "On Saturday a protest was held outside Gracie Mansion, where I live with my wife Rama. Neither of us were home at the time. This was a vile protest rooted in white supremacy entitled 'Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City.'" He said that as the "first Muslim mayor of New York City, anti-Muslim bigotry is nothing new to me, nor is it new for the 1 million New Yorkers or so who know this city as our home. While I found this protest appalling, I will not waiver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen."

While he said the "right to peaceful protest is sacred," and vowed to "defend it." He went on to say that New York City will "never tolerate violence, whether from protests or from counter protests. Many of the counter protesters met this display of bigotry peacefully with a vision of a city that is welcoming to all. But a few did not. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City. They are suspected of coming here to commit an act of terrorism."