New York — The New York City Police Commissioner said on Monday that authorities were investigating whether the men who were brought in… Improvised explosive devices To protest outside the New York City mayor’s headquarters inspired by ISIS.
devices, Which did not explode They were thrown during rowdy counter-protests Saturday near Gracie Mansion during a “Stop the Islamist Takeover of New York City” event led by far-right activist Jake Lange. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the explosives could have caused serious injury or death.
Teich said during a press conference that two people were being held for their alleged role in the confrontation but had not been charged. Police are working with federal prosecutors and the FBI, which has assigned agents from the bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate.
“I can confirm this morning that this is being investigated as an ISIS-inspired act of terrorism,” Tesch said.
The two were not charged. Tesh said police are working with federal prosecutors and the FBI on the case. Agents from the bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are participating in the investigation, the FBI said. She said investigators did not find any clear connection to him Iran or war.
“At this time, we do not have any information linking this investigation to what is happening abroad in Iran,” Tesch said.
The sparsely attended protest on Saturday attracted a much larger group of counter-protesters, including one who police say threw a smoking object containing nuts, bolts, screws and a “hobby wick” into the crowd.
Tesh indicated that the device went out on its own, just steps away from the police officers. The commissioner said that the same person who threw the bomb dropped a second device that apparently did not ignite.
Authorities said on Saturday that they “identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street.” Several streets were closed and nearby buildings were evacuated. At approximately 7 p.m., police used a flatbed truck to remove the Honda Civic and the streets were reopened.
Lang was charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes for his role in the January 6 insurrection, but was released from prison as part of the January 6 insurrection. President Donald Trump’s sweeping clemency law. Lange recently announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Florida.
Earlier this year, he organized a rally in Minneapolis to support Trump’s anti-immigration campaign, sparking outrage Angry crowd of counter-protesters Who quickly chased after him.