On Tuesday, RedState’s Bob Hoge brought you the story of New York City Police Department (NYPD) Chief Aaron Edwards, who brought down one of the suspects in the attempted NYC terrorist attack that took place on Saturday.
In a photo that has since gone viral, Edwards was seen jumping over a barricade with his gaze locked in on 18-year-old Emir Balat, one of two Muslim adult teenagers who DOJ Attorney General Pam Bondi said tried to carry out an “ISIS-inspired attack of terrorism” – complete with IEDs – against those protesting the city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, near Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence.
Some heroes wear capes — Chief Aaron Edwards wears blue. pic.twitter.com/wYvDfSbxgM
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 10, 2026
Balat was subdued by Edwards, who pinned him to the ground after at least one IED had already been thrown into the crowd.
Edwards is being hailed as a national hero, as is his colleague, Sgt. Luis Navarro, who, as Bob also reported, “reacted instantly, as noted by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference Monday. As the attack unfolded, Navarro sprinted toward a second IED device that was smoking after it was allegedly dropped by Balat and ignored his own safety to protect bystanders.”
Edwards, standing proudly alongside Navarro, spoke to the press on Wednesday in response to all the plaudits they’ve received, and, not surprisingly, he was humble and made us proud of him all over again:
“It was just instinct. I’m trying to get the bad guy.”
NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards, who has been hailed as a hero for leaping over a barricade and chasing down the Gracie Mansion bombing suspects on Saturday, says he doesn’t want that viral picture to be about him: “I want it to be about the day. I want it to be about what we did. I want that picture to be a reminder to New Yorkers that your cops, the members of the NYPD… we’re going to be relentless in pursuing justice. There’s going to be no obstacles. Nothing’s going to stand in our way from protecting New Yorkers.”
Watch:
“It was just instinct. I’m trying to get the bad guy.”
NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards, who has been hailed as a hero for leaping over a barricade and chasing down the Gracie Mansion bombing suspects on Saturday, says he doesn’t want that viral picture to be about him: “I want it to be… pic.twitter.com/tdcATu912v
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 11, 2026
More:
NYPD Chief who leapt over a barricade after two men who authorities said were inspired by ISIS said “instinct kicked in.” “I’m glad that I cleared that barricade,” he said and smiled. “Imagine if I fell.” “Nothing is going to stand in our way protecting New Yorkers,” he said.
Watch:
NYPD Chief who leapt over a barricade after two men who authorities said were inspired by ISIS said “instinct kicked in.”
“I’m glad that I cleared that barricade,” he said and smiled. “Imagine if I fell.” “Nothing is going to stand in our way protecting New Yorkers,” he said. pic.twitter.com/ev4nhwC4m0— Anna Schecter (@annaschecter) March 11, 2026
Navarro also spoke, stating that he knew lives needed to be saved from the attack:
“I saw the device hit the floor… I knew that I needed to save lives. So, I ran towards the people to make sure that nobody got hurt.”
NYPD Sgt. Luis Navarro & Chief Aaron Edwards sharing their experience after stopping 2 suspects who are charged with throwing bombs during… pic.twitter.com/DNLdfhu3HA
— Linda Schmidt (@LSchmidtFox5) March 11, 2026
These guys are constantly treated like garbage by Democrat “leaders” in their city, most notably by Mamdani, who, before being elected mayor, repeatedly demanded the police be defunded as a New York Assemblyman, calling the department a “major threat to public safety” and for them to be dismantled.
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This July tweet contains numerous examples of Mamdani’s hatred for law enforcement:
Muslim Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani says he’s “thankful” for the NYPD detail that protects him.
The very same police that he’s REPEATEDLY called to defund.
Police protection for me but not for thee. pic.twitter.com/AwoR4RZ2X6
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 30, 2025
This was one of the more notorious instances:
This you? pic.twitter.com/zZO1O7LPpx
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) July 29, 2025
More recently, he refused to condemn a snowball attack against officers that sent several to the hospital for treatment for lacerations to the face.
Understandably, people often wonder why officers would stick around in the face of so much hostility and disdain, not just from Mamdani, but from the Defund the Police types in the city, whom his anti-police rhetoric has emboldened.
But these officers don’t do what they do for Mamdani – they do it for the city and the people they love, to try and make it a better place for future generations. You can’t fault them for that.
NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sergeant Luis Navarro rush toward the suspects during the incident where IEDs were thrown at a crowd.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd…”
John 10:11Thank you servants. #Hero pic.twitter.com/MfJcv8tZvo
— Todd Baxter (@Sheriff_Baxter) March 11, 2026
Mad respect to the men and women in blue, not just in NYC but across the country. God bless ya.
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