New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday of refusing to identify suspects in an explosive incident near the mayor’s residence as terrorists, instead condemning protest organizer Jake Lang as a white supremacist.
Two men were arrested Saturday night after improvised explosive devices were thrown during clashes outside Gracie Mansion at an anti-Islam protest. Law enforcement officials confirmed the devices contained TATP, a highly volatile chemical known as “the Mother of Satan” that has been used in numerous terrorist attacks worldwide. Though the explosives failed to detonate and no injuries were reported, police warned they could cause serious harm or death. Federal authorities, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, are assisting New York City Police Department officials in investigating whether the suspects were influenced by ISIS propaganda.
Paladino criticized Mayor Mamdani for his delayed response to the incident and failing to label the suspects as terrorists. “I am so furious right now,” she said. “I am seething, as are most New Yorkers.” The councilwoman also alleged that federal investigators have found evidence linking the suspects to ISIS training, including reports of their parents being naturalized in the early 2000s and multiple home raids. She stated: “They were ISIS trained. Their parents were just naturalized in the early 2000s. And also the FBI raided three other homes … and they are finding more and more information out.”
Paladino further accused the mayor of withholding critical details about the explosive devices, saying he refused to disclose what was loaded in them. “He refuses to tell you the truth about what actually took place there,” she added.
