Manhattan Official Blames Wrong Group For NYC Incident In His Official Statement
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…
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.
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.”