Six individuals were taken into custody on Saturday following clashes that erupted during a far-right anti-Muslim demonstration outside the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, police said.
The confrontation occurred near Gracie Mansion, where around 20 protesters connected to far-right activist Jake Lang gathered for the rally.
At the same time, roughly 120 counter-protesters assembled nearby, according to Jessica Tisch, who briefed reporters on the incident.
According to Tisch, tensions escalated after a participant in the anti-Muslim protest allegedly deployed pepper spray against a counter-protester.
The individual was subsequently arrested by officers at the scene.
Police said additional arrests were made for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic as officers moved in to prevent the situation from spiraling further.
Authorities also detained two counter-protesters who were accused of setting off smoke-producing devices during the confrontation.
The police commissioner said the objects appeared to be “jars wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts and screws, fitted with a hobby-style fuse that could be ignited.”
Officials said investigators are currently analyzing the devices to determine whether they were operational improvised explosive devices, smoke bombs, or simply hoax devices.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
City officials confirmed that Mamdani — the city’s first Muslim mayor — and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were safe. According to mayoral spokesperson Joe Calvello, it was unclear whether the couple was inside the residence when the protest unfolded.
Calvello strongly criticized the demonstration, describing Lang as a “vile white supremacist,” and calling the protest “despicable and Islamophobic.”
He added that the mayor remained in communication with the police commissioner and was being regularly updated on developments surrounding the incident.
