NEW YORK — Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is facing criticism after posting a social media statement falsely accusing "White Christian Nationalists" of being behind the deployment of an improvised explosive device (IED) during a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor. The incident occurred on March 7, 2026, when two groups of protesters clashed outside the residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the Upper East Side. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), two counter-protesters were arrested after throwing a smoke explosive device toward police forces. Authorities identified the two suspects as Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19. Sources stated that the device contained an explosive known as "Mother of Satan," a material that has appeared in several bomb threats in the United States and terrorist attacks in Europe. Before information about the suspects was released, Hoylman-Sigal posted on X claiming that "White Christian Nationalists" had brought explosive devices and created a "wave of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism" in the area. The post was later deleted. As news of the arrests emerged, many commentators and politicians criticized the Manhattan official's hasty reaction. Former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind remarked that politicians jumped to conclusions before having all the facts. According to him, such reactions show that many political leaders ignore the reality of the situation. Hoylman-Sigal later explained that his initial statement changed as more information from authorities became available. He emphasized that those who threw the explosive devices must be held legally accountable. “Those who throw incendiary and explosive devices are fools. They are domestic terrorists,” Hoylman-Sigal said. The protest was initially organized by right-wing activist Jake Lang, who called for a protest against what he termed the “Islamification” of New York. A counter-protest group gathered to confront this demonstration. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim to serve as New York City mayor, condemned both the hate-fueled protest and the violent behavior involving explosives. Mamdani stated that violence at protests cannot be tolerated, similar to the unprovoked stabbing that recently occurred in the borough, and those involved must face legal consequences. The NYPD and federal agencies are continuing to investigate the case.

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