NEW YORK (AP) — A counterprotester demonstrating against a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” event Saturday lit and threw a device containing nuts, bolts and screws at the protesting crowd after someone from that group used pepper spray on the counterprotest, police said.
Police are investigating the incident that started late Saturday morning when someone from the anti-Islam protest associated with conservative influencer Jake Lang shot pepper spray into a counterprotesting group near the mayoral residence Gracie Mansion, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Tensions continued to heighten, she said, when someone in the counterprotest lit and threw a device she described as smaller than a football into the protesting crowd of about 20 people.
The device struck a barrier and extinguished itself “a few feet from police officers,” she said. The same person then ran, and another person gave a him a second device, which he then dropped. The devices, which Tisch said were smaller than a football, were wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts, and screws, as well as a hobby fuse that could be lit. She said it was unclear if they were functioning devices or a hoax.
All three people have been arrested, and an investigation is underway, Tisch said.
Tisch didn’t report any injuries during a news conference and said she believed Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not in the residence at the time.
Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping act of clemency for Jan. 6 defendants last year. Lang recently announced that he is running for U.S. Senate in Florida.
Lang has also protested in Minneapolis during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Tisch said about 20 people showed up to the protest tied to him on Saturday, and the counterprotest had about 125 people at its peak.
FILE - In this July 28, 2014 file photo, a wrought iron gate secures the entrance to Gracie Mansion, on the Upper East Side in New York on Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
FILE - Jake Lang, center, walks away from counter protesters after an altercation near Minneapolis City Hall, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura,File)
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Alyssa Thompson scored in the 82nd minute to break a stalemate and the United States defeated Colombia 1-0 on Saturday to win the SheBelieves Cup.
It was the eighth straight shutout for the United States, which hasn't allowed a goal since a 3-1 victory over Portugal in October. It was also the U.S. team's eighth overall victory in the SheBelieves Cup tournament, now in its 11th year.
Earlier in the day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Canada overcame Argentina 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
With the victory over Colombia, the United States went undefeated in the SheBelieves Cup tournament. Canada finished second after a 1-0 loss to the United States on Wednesday, and Colombia was third. Argentina finished the four-team, round robin tournament in last place with no goals scored.
“I thought we were sluggish the first half. I thought everything we did was a step off. I thought we were too deep in the midfield. I thought we were slow to press the ball. I thought in general, our play was average,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “But we're playing a good opponent that can transition well. So I think having that test was a good moment for us.”
The United States is 13-0-2 all-time against Colombia. The only time Las Cafeteras have scored against the Americans was in the group stage of the 2016 Olympics, a 2-2 draw.
Following a scoreless first half, U.S. defender Naomi Girma was subbed out because of calf tightness. Afterward Grima told reporters she left the game as a precaution.
Thompson, who plays for Chelsea, took a cross from Jaedyn Shaw and deftly scored in the upper corner of the net off the bar, out of reach of Colombia goalkeeper Katherine Tapia.
“I think it’s been a tremendous year for Alyssa, for both club and country,” Hayes said. “The consistency in her play, I think, is a stand out for me, in terms of being able to do things over 90 minutes and do it game after game, including a clutch moment like today. She’s been doing that for Chelsea all year.”
It was Thompson's fourth international goal and earned her the tournament's MVP award. She said she wasn't sure it was a goal when it came off her foot.
“I wanted to get another shot on goal, so looked at it, went off the cross bar and in,” Thompson said. “That's when I knew it was going in.”
The United States has gone 805 minutes without conceding a goal.
“I think we've shown how to win when we're not at our best. I think we've shown the versatility; I think we've shown the depth; I think we've shown the maturity,” Hayes said. “As a coach, I'm happy about those things. And of course I love shutouts, but more importantly I love that we haven't given up a lot of chances.”
Before the match, the United States honored former midfielder Tobin Heath, who formally retired last year after struggling with a nagging knee injury.
Heath, who won the 2015 and 2019 Women's World Cups with the United States, played her last national team match in 2021. She made 181 appearances for the national team in a career spanning 13 years, scoring 36 goals.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Colombia goalkeeper Claudia Dickey (1) blocks a shot during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match against the United States, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Colombia midfielder Leicy Santos (10) kicks the ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match against the United States, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Colombia midfielder Marcela Restrepo (8) shoots during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match against the United States, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Colombia forward Linda Caicedo (18) drives past United States midfielder Sam Coffey (17) during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Colombia forward Linda Caicedo (18) drives past United States forward Alyssa Thompson (21) during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
