NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The NYPD responded to the area around Gracie Mansion on Tuesday upon discovery of a "suspicious device"—only several days after authorities say two men lit a homemade explosive during a protest outside the mayor's residence in an attempted act of "ISIS-inspired terrorism."
Police confirmed at 2:40 p.m. that the device was determined to be "non-threatening" and the surrounding Carl Schurz Park was cleared.
The department thanked the public for reporting their concerns, stating: "This was an instance of everyday New Yorkers following a clear message: If you see something, say something. Call 888-NYC-SAFE."
East End Avenue between East 85th and East 87th streets, East 86th Street between York Avenue and East End Avenue and Carl Schurz Park were all temporarily closed as authorities investigated the potential threat.
The Upper East Side neighborhood has been heavily patrolled since the attempted attack on Saturday, when two men from Pennsylvania allegedly joined dueling protests in an attempt to deploy explosives.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, told law enforcement officials after their arrest that they were inspired by the Islamic State group, according to officials and the criminal complaint.
The men are facing federal charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. They are currently being held without bail.