'Sad reality': NYC mayoral candidate hit with car bomb threat

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's office said Thursday that he was the subject of a car bomb threat, even though Mamdani does not own a car.

The New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force is actively investigating the threat, Fox News reported.

"While this is a sad reality, it is not surprising after millions of dollars have been spent on dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric designed to stoke division and hate," Mamdani said in a statement to Fox News. "Violence and racism should have no place in our politics. Zohran remains focused on delivering a safe and affordable New York."

If elected, Mamdani would be the first Muslim mayor in New York City history. He is also a member of the Democratic Socialist Party, which has earned him criticism from mainstream politicians like Andrew Cuomo, who is also vying for the mayoral job.

Mamdani has also been criticized for his views on the Middle East. For instance, Mamdani said in a mayoral debate that Israel has a right to exist, but refused to clarify whether it has a right be exist as a Jewish state. Instead, Mamdani said Israel should exist as a "state with equal rights."

Some of Mamdani's municipal policy positions have also garnered criticism from local businesses. The New York Post recently reported that Mamdani wants to raise corporate taxes to pay for "freebies" like free transit and childcare.

Mamdani retweeted the story on X and said, "I'm Zohran Mamdani and I approve this message."