According to a campaign announcement on Thursday, the New York Police Department is looking into a car bomb threat aimed at Democratic mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani.
Mamdani has mentioned that he’s received a “surprising” voicemail from the caller.
“Zohran doesn’t own a car, but the violent and specific language from what seems to be a repeated caller is concerning, and we are taking every precaution,” Mamdani stated in a message relayed to the hill by his campaign.
“This is a troubling reality, but it’s not unexpected given the millions spent on dehumanizing rhetoric. Islamophobic language fosters division and hatred. We should not tolerate violence or racism in our politics,” he continued.
Concerns about violent threats against members of the New York State Legislature surfaced after Brad Lander, a Democratic mayoral candidate, was arrested following a court appearance related to immigration.
This incident comes on the heels of a “politically motivated” shooting involving two Democrats from Minnesota.
“This is a vicious threat of political violence aimed at Mamdani, and it’s entirely unacceptable. I condemn these threats and similar actions. They have no place in our political landscape or society,” he remarked in a post on Thursday.
“This is a crucial moment for our country, and we must tone down the rhetoric and concentrate on what matters to the people,” he added.
Notably, Mamdani and Cuomo had an intense exchange during their candidate debate on June 12. Mamdani criticized Cuomo for past misconduct and for mispronouncing his name.
“Unlike you, I didn’t have to resign in disgrace. I’ve never embezzled hundreds of millions from the MTA. I’ve never been accused of sexual harassment by 13 women who placed their trust in me. And I’ve never overstepped boundaries regarding private medical records,” he asserted.
“The correct pronunciation is Mamdani, M, A, M, D, A, N, I. You should probably learn how to say that,” he added.
Cuomo and Mamdani are close in the polls, with a recent survey showing just a 10% difference (55% to 45%).
