Two men charged with terror offences after homemade bomb thrown outside NYC mayor’s home
Two men charged with terror offences after homemade bomb thrown outside NYC mayor’s home
Two individuals were charged with terrorism-related offenses following an attempted bombing at a protest near the New York City mayor’s residence, according to police. The attack, which authorities believe was inspired by the Islamic State group (IS), targeted Gracie Mansion, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani lives. The suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, claimed their intent was to execute an attack “more impactful than the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013 that resulted in three fatalities.”
During the incident, a third explosive device was discovered inside the suspects’ vehicle by law enforcement. The attack occurred during an anti-Islam demonstration. Despite the setup, the explosives did not detonate as planned, as captured in footage showing one suspect being apprehended shortly after activating a device.
“We were lucky the explosives didn’t detonate, but luck isn’t a strategy. These devices could have led to catastrophic outcomes,” said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch during Monday’s press briefing.
Tisch emphasized that the suspects admitted to being inspired by IS and had viewed its propaganda materials. Notably, they had no prior criminal records. They are now facing multiple charges, including attempted material support to IS and the use of a weapon of mass destruction.
During their initial court appearance, the two suspects wore prison jumpsuits, and a federal magistrate judge ordered their detention until 8 April. Balat’s legal representative highlighted that his client is a high school senior, a U.S. citizen, with no prior arrests, and noted ongoing personal challenges in his life.
According to court records, both suspects relinquished their right to remain silent upon arrest. Balat wrote a statement pledging loyalty to IS and calling for the deaths of nonbelievers, as detailed in the criminal complaint shared by the BBC. Kayumi asserted his connection to IS, stating he had viewed its propaganda on his phone and was partially influenced by the group’s ideology.
Mayor Mamdani declared that the two men should be held accountable for their actions. “We will ensure New Yorkers’ safety and not tolerate any terrorism or violence in our city,” he said in a Monday statement.
Tisch noted the NYPD’s ongoing vigilance in counter-terrorism efforts and highlighted the increased alert level in the city and nationwide due to the US-Israel conflict in Iran. She added that one device was identified as triacetone triperoxide, a volatile homemade explosive used in previous attacks.
Officers located a car on the Upper East Side linked to the suspects. A robot discovered another explosive device within it, matching the design of the earlier ones. Earlier reports indicated the protest near the mayor’s home was organized by Jake Lang, a far-right influencer and participant in the January 6th riot. The group was outnumbered by a counter-protest featuring over 100 demonstrators. During the clash, video footage confirmed by CBS News showed Balat throwing the first ignited device, which extinguished after hitting a barrier. He then retrieved a second device from Kayumi.
The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which occurred as runners crossed the finish line, claimed three lives and injured hundreds, including many with severe limb damage. Balat reportedly expressed IS allegiance while being transported to the police station, stating, “If I didn’t do it, someone else will come and do it.” He also remarked that the attack aimed to exceed the Boston Marathon bombing’s scale.
The BBC has reached out to both Balat and Kayumi’s legal counsel for comment. Tisch
