ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned “both” sides following the ISIS-inspired attempted terrorist attack at an anti-Muslim protest outside Gracie Mansion.
Moments after Hochul posted a statement acknowledging the “terrorist attack” by two allegedly self-radicalized Islamist teenagers, she quickly jumped to also blame Saturday’s hateful protest, organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang.
“We condemn both. Neither belongs in New York,” Hochul told reporters after an unrelated event in Albany Monday.
“I reject hate in all of its forms. I reject the hate that launched this,” she said, when pressed on how important she considered the accused bomb-throwers’ motivations.
“I reject the hate that perpetrated this. That drew people to travel to our city and with these weapons of destruction. “It’s all abhorrent. It doesn’t belong in our state. None of it does,” Hochul said.
On Sunday, the Democratic governor first reacted to the incident, thanking NYPD’s quick response and announcing an investigation into what would eventually be ruled a terror attack.
“There is no place for violence of any kind in our State and those responsible for this cowardly act will be held accountable,” Hochul, who is up for re-election in November, wrote in her first statement on the subject Sunday.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, called the incident a “new reality” under Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“First snowballs now bombs! What’s next? This is the new reality under Hochul/Mamdani,” Blakeman wrote in a statement to The Post, referring to the NYPD officers who were pelted with snowballs during a chaotic event in Washington Square Park last month.
Mamdani at first issued a mealy-mouthed statement denouncing “white supremacist Jake Lang” for organizing a protest “rooted in hate and bigotry” — but not directly addressing the motivations of the alleged bomb throwers, Emir Balat, 18, and 19-year-old Ibraham Kayumi.
“Let me say this plainly: Anyone who comes to New York City to bring violence to our streets will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” Mamdani said at press conference Sunday.
Speaking outside Gracie Mansion on Monday morning, Mamdani did say the motive was terror, but did not mention that the suspects were allegedly inspired by ISIS to carry out the attempted attack.
“They are suspected of coming here to commit an act of terrorism,” he said.
He added in a statement later: “Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi have been charged with committing a heinous act of terrorism and proclaiming their allegiance to ISIS.”
“They should be held fully accountable for their actions. We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city.”
