A chaotic protest outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence erupted into controversy after explosive devices were thrown near Gracie Mansion — and several political leaders quickly pointed fingers in the wrong direction.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal found himself under intense criticism Sunday after a social media post blamed “White Christian Nationalists” for the violence before authorities revealed the suspects were actually part of a pro-Muslim counter-protest group.
In a statement posted Saturday on X, Hoylman-Sigal wrote that “White Christian Nationalists led a roaming trail of Islamophobia and antisemitism today on Manhattan’s Upper East Side at Gracie Mansion, where they targeted our mayor with an incendiary device.”
The post was later deleted after police identified the suspects arrested in connection with the incident as Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi.
The pair had reportedly joined a group of counter-protesters who confronted a demonstration organized by controversial right-wing activist Jake Lang. Lang’s rally was aimed at protesting what he described as the “Islamification” of New York and calling for an end to public Muslim prayer events.
According to law enforcement sources, Balat and Kayumi allegedly threw homemade explosive devices during the confrontation. Authorities say the devices were packed with “Mother of Satan,” a highly volatile explosive compound frequently used in international terrorist attacks.
Federal authorities are now working alongside the NYPD as the investigation continues.
Critics quickly seized on Hoylman-Sigal’s initial statement as an example of political figures rushing to judgment before the facts were known.
‘What’s happened to the Democrats?’
Manhattan BP Brad Hoylman-Sigal ripped after he blamed wrong protesters for hurling bombs outside Gracie Mansion
Ibraham Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18, trained with ISIS overseas and packed their bomb with “Mother of Satan,” an explosive. pic.twitter.com/LDjoQ9KkiU
— ((Hurkle Durkling))
(@durklinghurkle) Former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a Democrat-turned-Republican and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, blasted the borough president for what he called a reckless response.
“It’s very sad. What’s happened to the Democrats? They’re blind to the point that facts don’t matter anymore,” Hikind said. “The damage is done. They jumped to conclusions.”
Hoylman-Sigal defended the change in his messaging, arguing that his comments evolved as more information became available.
“My comments evolved as I learned more. It was an evolving statement. I amended it,” he said Sunday.
Despite revising his earlier claim, Hoylman-Sigal insisted that the suspects should face serious consequences.
“I am not making any excuses for bomb throwers,” he said. “People who hurled incendiary devices are just idiots. They are domestic terrorists.”
Other Democratic officials also faced criticism for early statements that framed the incident primarily as a response to Islamophobia.
Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander initially condemned what he described as “vile displays of Islamophobia,” but later acknowledged that the explosives had been thrown by counter-protesters.
“The explosives yesterday near Gracie Mansion were not thrown by the Islamophobic protestors, but by their counter-protesters,” Lander said in a revised statement. “Violence is utterly unacceptable, wherever it comes from.”
He also issued an apology for reacting too quickly.
“I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions and posting too soon,” Lander said, adding that the suspects should be held accountable under the law.
What’s happened to Democrats?
Manhattan BP Brad Hoylman-Sigal ripped after he blamed wrong protesters for hurling bombs outside Gracie Mansion.https://t.co/ayYJpQr0xs
— American Roar (@RoarShar6064) March 9, 2026
Mayor Mamdani also weighed in, condemning the protest organized by Jake Lang as being “rooted in bigotry and racism.” However, critics noted that the mayor’s statement did not specifically identify the two suspects accused of throwing the explosives.
“This is insane,” wrote Geiger Capital on X. “Mamdani calls out first, and by name, a ‘white supremacist’ for protesting. He then leaves out the two Muslim men arrested by NYPD after they allegedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and threw a homemade bomb.”
Police confirmed that the explosive devices were thrown during the clash outside the mayor’s residence on Saturday. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as federal and local law enforcement continue reviewing evidence and witness accounts from the volatile demonstration.
