"I can confirm this morning that this is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism. The devices, which did not explode, were hurled during raucous counterprotests Saturday near Gracie Mansion. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the explosives could have caused serious injury or death. Police are working with federal prosecutors and the FBI, which has assigned agents with the bureau's Joint Terrorism Task Force to the investigation."
"The sparsely attended protest Saturday drew a far larger group of counterdemonstrators, including one person who police say tossed a smoking object containing nuts, bolts, screws and a "hobby fuse" into the crowd. The device extinguished itself steps from police officers, Tisch noted. The same person who threw it then dropped a second device that did not appear to ignite, the commissioner said."
"At this time, we do not have any information that connects this investigation to what's going on overseas in Iran. Two people are in custody for their alleged roles in the confrontation but they have not been charged, Tisch said during a news conference. Police are working with federal prosecutors and the FBI, which has assigned agents with the bureau's Joint Terrorism Task Force to the investigation."
During counterprotests Saturday near Gracie Mansion at a "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" event led by far-right activist Jake Lang, two people brought improvised explosive devices that did not explode. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the investigation is being treated as ISIS-inspired terrorism. Two individuals are in custody but have not been charged. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is collaborating with federal prosecutors on the case. One device containing nuts, bolts, screws, and a hobby fuse was thrown into the crowd but extinguished itself near police officers. A second device was also recovered. Investigators found no connection to Iran or overseas conflicts.
#terrorism-investigation #isis-inspired-attack #new-york-city-protest #improvised-explosive-devices #joint-terrorism-task-force
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