New York: Man detained as devices thrown at anti-Islam rally

"Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it traveled through the air before it struck a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers. The same person then ran, and another man gave him a second device, which he then dropped near Lang's group of protesters. Both men have been detained by the police."

"The devices were wrapped in black tape and contained nuts, bolts and screws, police said. New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the devices were smaller than a football and also had a hobby fuse that could be lit. It was unclear if the devices were functional improvised explosives or a hoax."

"Lang's protest which was against alleged "Islamification" and called for an end to "public Muslim prayer" drew 20 demonstrators while the counterdemonstration had close to 125 people at its peak, police said. The two groups were separated into designated areas by officers."

Two opposing protests occurred outside Gracie Mansion, the New York mayor's residence, on Saturday. A conservative group called "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" drew 20 demonstrators, while a counterprotest called "Drive the Nazis Out of New York" attracted approximately 125 people. Police separated the groups into designated areas. Tensions escalated when a protester used pepper spray against counterprotesters. Subsequently, a counterprotester lit and threw an ignited device wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts, and screws toward the opposing group. The device struck a barrier and extinguished itself near police officers. The same individual then received a second device from another man and dropped it near the far-right protesters. Both men were detained. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated the devices were smaller than a football with hobby fuses and unclear functionality.

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