2026 New York City bombing attempt
| 2026 New York City bombing attempt | |
|---|---|
The east front of Gracie Mansion | |
| Location | 40°46′35″N 73°56′37″W / 40.776288°N 73.943634°W Gracie Mansion, New York City, US |
| Date | March 7, 2026 |
Attack type | Attempted bombing |
| Weapons | Two homemade bombs |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Motive | Under investigation, suspected ISIS inspiration |
| Charges | Terrorism |
The 2026 New York City bombing attempt occurred on March 7, 2026, outside of Gracie Mansion, in the Yorkville neighborhood on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Two men from Bucks County, Pennsylvania allegedly attempted to detonate two bombs in a crowd of people protesting to "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City", held by American far-right activist, Jake Lang.[1][2] Both bombs failed to detonate, and no one was injured in the attack.[3]
Investigation
On March 9, 2026, at a city press conference including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the attack was being investigated as an "act of ISIS-inspired terrorism". Tisch identified two suspects from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, one from Langhorne and the other from Newtown, who were taken into custody.[1] Two additional devices were identified at the scene—one dropped by a suspect on the run and one in a parked vehicle a few streets south of the residence.[4][5] In addition, federal charges were brought by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York against the two men including "material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization".[1]
Investigators say the attackers were inspired by the Islamic State and wanted the incident to be deadlier than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.[6] Police recovered a notebook from the attackers which had alternative targets such as shopping centers.[7]
Reactions
Speaking about the incident, Mayor Mamdani first called the rally "appalling". He further praised the counter-protestors, which were larger in number-according to authorities, of approximately 120 people to the dozen or so protestors and supporters of Jake Lang which were only estimated to be around two dozen or so people.[8] He also condemned the incident, saying, "Many of the counter-protesters met this display of bigotry peacefully. A few did not. Two men [...] traveled from two different towns in Bucks County and attempted to bring violence to New York City." He also commended the quick action of the NYPD officers and spoke in support of the right to free speech, saying the "right to peaceful protest is sacred. It does not belong only to those we agree with."[1][8]
References
- ^ a b c d Mann, Brian (March 9, 2026). "Attempted attack with explosives in New York City investigated as "ISIS-inspired terrorism"". NPR. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
At Monday's press conference, Mayor Mamdani condemned the original protest as inspired by "bigotry" but he described political violence as unacceptable.
"Many of the counter-protesters met this display of bigotry peacefully," Mamdani said. "A few did not. Two men, Amir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City."
Mamdani and Tisch both praised NYPD officers who responded quickly following the alleged attack, preventing further attempts at violence and helping capture the two suspects. - ^ Press, Associated (March 8, 2026). "Counterprotester threw improvised explosive at anti-Islam event in NYC, police say". AP News. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ Weiser, Benjamin; Marcius, Chelsia Rose; Goldberg, Emma; Rashbaum, William K. (March 9, 2026). "Mamdani Live Updates: Police Say Gracie Mansion Incident Inspired by Islamic State". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ Hartman, Trish; Gallagher, Bryanna (March 9, 2026). "Complaint says Bucks County men who brought explosives to NYC said they were inspired by Islamic State". WPVI-TV. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ Morrell, Jason K.; Judd, Alan (March 9, 2026). "Pair charged with ISIS-inspired attempted bombing outside NYC mayor's home". Straight Arrow News. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ Millman, Jennifer (March 9, 2026). "Recap: Bigger than Boston? Gracie Mansion bomb attempt complaint unsealed". NBC New York. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ "ISIS-inspired suspects considered other targets before Gracie Mansion protest: sources". ABC7 New York. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ a b Luscombe, Richard (March 9, 2026). "Two teens charged over 'Islamic State-inspired' attack outside Mamdani home". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
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."
"Anti-Muslim bigotry is nothing new to me, nor is it anything new for the one million or so Muslim New Yorkers who know this city as our home. While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen.