Explosives thrown near NYC mayor’s home being investigated as ‘ISIS-inspired’ terrorism, officials say
Explosive Thrown Near NYC Mayor’s Home Under Scrutiny as ‘ISIS-Inspired’ Terrorism
During weekend demonstrations, two individuals hurled improvised explosive devices close to the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city’s police commissioner confirmed that the incident is under investigation as a potential act of “ISIS-inspired terrorism.” Officials have linked the event to the Islamic State terrorist group, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat.
Federal Charges Against Suspects
Fourteen-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi and 18-year-old Emir Balat are now facing federal accusations related to the incident. The charges include unlawful possession and use of a “weapon of mass destruction,” transporting explosives, and attempting to support a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to a federal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, both teens were charged with orchestrating a terror attack and declaring their loyalty to ISIS.
“They should be held fully accountable for their actions. We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city,” stated Mamdani in a public declaration.
Details of the Attack
The explosive objects were deployed during an anti-Islam protest and its counter-protest near Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official home. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch clarified that the devices were “improvised to cause injury, harm, or even fatalities.” She noted that a third suspicious item tested negative for explosive content. One of the devices, however, contained a volatile homemade explosive, though no detonations occurred and no one was harmed.
Tisch also mentioned that current evidence does not link the investigation to developments in Iran, where the U.S. and Israel are conducting military operations. Despite this, the attack is being framed as an act of terror, with prosecutors comparing its intent to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that claimed three lives.
Legal Proceedings and Statements
In federal court, attorneys for Kayumi and Balat sought protective custody for their clients at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Mehdi Essmidi, Balat’s lawyer, highlighted concerns about his exposure to the general population, stating, “This is a publicly declared terror trial, this is the city of New York, he’s 18, and he’s exposed to the general population of what is called a hellhole, and we want to keep him protected.” Essmidi added that Balat, a Pennsylvania high school senior three classes away from graduation, faces personal challenges.
“These men allegedly sought to inflict mass casualties in service to ISIS with the hope of exceeding the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombing,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a Justice Department release.
The complaint detailed how Balat ignited one device and hurled it at protesters before receiving a second from Kayumi. He then ignited the second and placed it near police officers before fleeing and leaping over a barrier. Kayumi, too, was arrested by NYPD officers. During the arrest, Kayumi reportedly responded to a crowd’s question with “ISIS,” according to the complaint.
Officials confirmed that both suspects referenced ISIS in their post-arrest statements. Balat wrote on paper that he “pledged allegiance to the Islamic State,” while Kayumi claimed he had viewed ISIS propaganda on his phone. Tisch, when asked about whether the teens were recruited or had self-radicalized, chose not to elaborate, though Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner discussed the growing trend of youth radicalization online.