Two Pennsylvania men are facing federal terrorism charges after authorities say they carried out an ISIS-inspired attack outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence. Authorities identified the suspects as 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, The Daily Caller reported.
Both men were arrested Saturday outside Gracie Mansion after allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices toward protesters gathered outside the mayor’s home. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attack was motivated by extremist ideology and inspired by ISIS.
“This was not random violence. This was a planned attack motivated by extremist ideology and inspired by a violent foreign terrorist organization,” Tisch said.
Tisch said both suspects admitted their actions were connected to ISIS. Kayumi allegedly told investigators he had watched ISIS propaganda videos on his phone and was partly inspired by the group.
Tisch said Balat later pledged allegiance to ISIS in writing while in custody. Balat also allegedly told investigators he wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people.
Federal prosecutors in New York announced charges Monday against both suspects.
Each man faces charges, including attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. They are also charged with the use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Additional charges include transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
Mayor Mamdani said surveillance video captured the suspects throwing two explosive devices toward protesters outside Gracie Mansion.
Federal investigators said the devices contained explosive materials and fragmentation that could have killed or severely injured numerous people.
“Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi have been charged with committing a heinous act of terrorism and proclaiming their allegiance to ISIS. They should be held fully accountable for their actions,” Mamdani said in a statement Monday.
“We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city,” Mamdani said.
The attack occurred during a protest outside Gracie Mansion that authorities said was organized by individuals associated with right-wing influencer Jake Lang, CBS News reported.
Lang was previously pardoned for his involvement in the Jan. 6 riot. More than 100 counterprotesters also gathered near the event.
Law enforcement sources said the suspects were angered by the anti-Islam protest and brought homemade bombs, intending to cause harm.
Police said the devices were constructed using sports drink bottles filled with explosive material placed inside glass jars.
Authorities said the devices were packed with fragmentation, including nuts and bolts.
The explosive devices used hobby-style fuses connected to M80-type fireworks.
Preliminary testing showed that at least one of the devices contained triacetone triperoxide, also known as TATP.
TATP is a highly volatile explosive commonly synthesized from acetone and hydrogen peroxide.
Investigators said the first device thrown by Balat struck a barrier near a crosswalk and extinguished itself only a few feet from police officers.
Videos verified by investigators show chaos at the protest moments before the device was thrown.
Authorities said a man could be heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” just before the device was ignited and thrown.
Police later discovered another suspicious device on Sunday inside a vehicle parked about three blocks south of Gracie Mansion.
The discovery prompted limited evacuations of nearby buildings while the bomb squad assessed and removed the device. Tisch said the vehicle was connected to the suspects.
Investigators recovered handwritten notes from inside the vehicle referencing TATP and listing chemical ingredients used to construct the explosive devices.
The device was safely removed for further testing. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken the lead in the investigation.
Search warrants were executed at the suspects’ homes in Pennsylvania. The FBI also conducted a court-authorized search of a storage unit connected to the suspects in Pennsylvania.