A New York City police chief has given a humble response to a photograph of himself jumping a barrier as he chased down one of the men accused of throwing a bomb at anti-Muslim protesters outside the mayor’s mansion.

NYPD Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards, 46, has been hailed as a hero for his quick response to the incident on Saturday, which saw police successfully detain suspects Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18. 

Kayumi and Balat allegedly launched homemade explosive devices at a small crowd of far-right activists led by Jake Lang, a critic of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as the group clashed with roughly 125 counter-protesters.  

The NYPD celebrated Edwards’ bravery in chasing the suspects down by sharing a black-and-white photograph of him on social media beside the caption: ‘Some heroes wear capes – Chief Aaron Edwards wears blue.’

The image quickly went viral and has been viewed more than 25 million times, while social media users have created memes from it.

When asked about his newfound fame on Wednesday, the assistant chief simply replied that he is ‘glad I cleared that barrier.’ 

‘Imagine if I fell,’ he joked. ‘But to me, it was just instinct,’ he added. ‘I’m trying to get the bad guy, you know, I was in… real pursuit trying to get him.’

He said he hopes the story will shine a light on the work that was achieved that day as it was revealed the device could have caused a ‘significant explosion’. 

‘I want it to be about the day, I want it to be about what we did,’ Edwards said. ‘I want that picture to be a reminder to New Yorkers that, you know, your cops, the members of the NYPD, you know, we’re gonna be relentless in pursuing justice.

‘And there’s gonna be no obstacles, nothing’s going to stand in our way from protecting New Yorkers.’ 

Edwards’ quick response paid off, and he was soon able to catch up with Balat, of Pennsylvania, who is accused of throwing a homemade ‘Mother of Satan’ bomb outside the New York City mayor’s Gracie Mansion.

Balat told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization, and his alleged co-conspirator Kayumi, asserted that he was affiliated with the Islamic State, according to a criminal indictment. 

He even blurted out as he was being arrested that ‘ISIS’ was the reason for his conduct following the attempted bombing, which came as the two teens counter-protested a far-right demonstration. 

‘All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegience [sic] to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar!’ Kayumi later told investigators while he was in NYPD custody, the federal criminal complaint said.

‘This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet… We take action!’

Officers asked Balat whether they were aiming for a similar catastrophe like the bombing of the Boston Marathon in 2013, when two pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and wounding hundreds more.

‘No, even bigger,’ Balat replied, according to the complaint. He also noted that the Boston bomber only caused ‘three deaths’.

Both Balat and Kayumi were charged on Monday with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. 

Their vehicle – registered to one of Balat’s relatives – was discovered on Sunday only a few blocks from where they were arrested.

A search of the car revealed a ‘hobby fuse’ and a metal can, along with a written list of chemical ingredients and components that could be used to build explosives, the complaint said.

When police detonated the devices, there was a ‘significant explosion,’ NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said.

The devices – which did not explode when Balat hurled them into the crowd – would have caused ‘death, destruction, an extremely dangerous compound, and an extremely dangerous place deployed,’ she added. 

Balat threw the homemade devices during counterprotests against an anti-Islamic demonstration led by far-right activist and Mamdani critic Jake Lang. 

Lang’s sparsely-attended protest Saturday drew a far larger group of roughly 125 counter-demonstrators.

Amid the face-off, federal authorities said Balat tossed a jar-sized device that contained the white, crystalline explosive material triacetone triperoxide (TATP) into the crowd.

It also contained an exterior layer of duct-taped nuts and bolts, and a hobby fuse that was reportedly connected to an M80-type firework, investigators said.

The device extinguished itself just steps away from cops. According to the complaint, Balat then ran down the block and collected a second, similar device from Kayumi, dropped it near some police officers and tried to run away, the complaint said.

Cops tackled Balat and soon arrested him and Kayumi.

The NYPD said one person involved in the anti-Islam protest, Ian McGinnis, 21, was also arrested after pepper-spraying counter-protesters.

McGinnis, of Philadelphia, was released without bond after pleading not guilty Sunday to assault and aggravated harassment in a New York court, records show. A message seeking comment was left Monday for his attorney.

Three others were taken into custody but were released without charges.

Following the attack, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement condemning hatred and violence.

‘Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism,’ he shared on social media on Sunday.

‘Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are. What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable,’ the statement continued. 

‘The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are. I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe.

‘Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day.’

The mayor added that his administration is ‘closely monitoring the situation’ and that he is in close contact with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. 

Mamdani and his wife were not in Gracie Mansion at the time of the incident.