Legacy media outlets connected a bomb-throwing incident outside the home of Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani with “anti-Islam” activism, despite the action being investigated as “an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.”
Authorities arrested two suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were thrown at demonstrators outside Gracie Mansion in New York City during a Saturday counter-protest. Many outlets, including NBC News and NPR, highlighted that the bombing happened during an “anti-Islam protest” organized by right-wing activists, though authorities confirmed that Islamic counter-protesters were responsible for the incident.
NBC New York included in its headline that the attack happened during an “anti-Islam rally and counterprotest” organized by right-wing influencer Jake Lang.
NPR noted in its lede that the IEDs were thrown during an “anti-Muslim protest.” The Guardian also published the headline, “Explosive device thrown outside of Zohran Mamdani’s residence at anti-Islam protest,” and reported the incident took place during a protest held by Lang.
The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and ABC News also emphasized that the incident happened during an “anti-Islam” or “anti-Muslim” protest.
City & State NY, a local outlet based in New York, referred to the incident as an “Islamophobic demonstration.”
The bombing happened when a group of more than 100 counter-protesters gathered near Lang’s demonstration against Islam outside the mansion. Balat, one of the counter-protesters, threw the homemade bomb near the mayor’s home. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the homemade bomb thrown at the mansion contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), which has been linked to ISIS in past terror attacks.
Footage of the incident showed a man appearing to yell “Allahu Akbar” when Balat threw the device.
Mamdani stated during a Monday press conference that the incident was “rooted in white supremacy” and “anti-Muslim bigotry.” However, Tisch confirmed that the bombing was being investigated as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State.
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