Investigators were examining many hours of videos that James posted on social media, including one a day before the attack, in which he delivered profanity-laced diatribes about racism, society’s treatment of Black people, homelessness and violence. 

He also talked about his history of psychiatric treatment, and he complained about Mr Adams’ new policies on homeless people on the subways and gun violence.

New York Mayor Eric Adams, meanwhile, criticised Black Lives Matter activists for failing to act after another night of bloodshed rocked the city.

Mr Adams, New York’s second black mayor, asked why they were not out condemning the latest violence to erupt in the Bronx and Brooklyn, pointing out those who were killed or wounded were all black.

“Where are all those who stated ‘black lives matter’?” Mr Adams told local TV station NY1.

‘We can’t be hypocrites’

“Do an analysis of who was killed or shot last night. I was up all night speaking to my commanders in the Bronx, in Brooklyn. The victims were black,” the mayor said.

Three people were killed and at least 13 others were wounded in a series of shootings that rocked parts of the Bronx and Brooklyn late Tuesday and early Wednesday, police and sources said.

“We can’t be hypocrites,” said Mr Adams, who is currently isolating in the mayoral mansion with Covid-19.

His comments appeared to be an attack on progressives colleagues in the Democratic Party who had called for the defunding of the city’s police and have criticised his policies in recent weeks.