The New York police department determined that a suspicious device reported near Gracie Mansion on Tuesday afternoon was “non-threatening”.
“This was an instance of everyday New Yorkers following a clear message: if you see something, say something,” the NYPD posted on social media.
Authorities responded to a reported suspicious device on the Upper East Side near Gracie Mansion earlier on Tuesday afternoon, days after two men threw homemade explosives during protests outside mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home in what authorities have called an act of “ISIS-inspired terrorism”.
The NYPD posted an advisory on X, which said: “Due to a suspicious device, East End Avenue between East 85th and East 87th Street, as well as East 86th Street between York Avenue and East End Avenue are closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
“Additionally, Carl Schurz Park is closed at this time.”
It was not immediately clear if the matter was associated with Saturday’s protests.
Separately, the FBI confirmed on Tuesday that a storage unit in Pennsylvania believed to be associated with Saturday’s attack at Gracie Mansion contained explosive residue.
In a social media post, the FBI of New York said that “Special Agent Bomb Technicians and the local bomb squads conducted a controlled detonation to ensure the safety of law enforcement and others in the area”.
The post also mentioned collaboration with the FBI Philadelphia field office and local agencies.
On Monday, two teenagers were charged with offenses including terrorism and using a weapon of mass destruction after they allegedly threw improvised explosive devices during an anti-Islam demonstration on Saturday outside the residence of Mamdani.
According to a 10-page criminal complaint filed in federal court in the US southern district of New York, 18-year-old Emir Balat threw the devices at protesters after they were handed to him by Ibrahim Kayumi, 19.
It said both declared allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, colloquially referred to as Isis.
The case unfolded at a Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City demonstration of about 20 people organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang, and dozens more who turned up to oppose it.
Balat and Kayumi have been described as counter-protesters.
Neither of the devices in question exploded, and both were made safe by the NYPD bomb squad.
The NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters on Monday she could “confirm that this is being investigated as an act of Isis-inspired terrorism”. And at a later, afternoon press conference, Tisch said investigators were “aware” of recent international travel by Balat and Kayumi, although she declined to elaborate.
Mamdani asserted that both men had “traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City”. The mayor praised two police officers whose “swift and decisive actions” he said led to the suspects’ prompt arrest as well as the devices being removed safely.
“New York City will never tolerate violence, whether from protests or counter-protests,” Mamdani said.
