Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, were taken into custody after suspected explosive devices were used at a protest outside Gracie Mansion. According to charging documents, Balat and Kayumi admitted to being inspired by ISIS in carrying out the attack. Federal authorities allege Balat lit and threw a first explosive device toward protesters, then retrieved a second device from Kayumi, lit it, and dropped it near police officers before being tackled and arrested.
The explosive devices were homemade, contained TATP (triacetone triperoxide), and were packed with nuts and bolts for fragmentation. One device was the size of a jar, wrapped in metallic or black tape. Preliminary test results determined the devices were not hoax devices nor smoke bombs, but improvised explosive devices that could have caused serious injury or death, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
During his arrest, body-worn camera footage shows Kayumi responded with 'ISIS' when asked why he'd done this, Commissioner Tisch reported. After waiving his Miranda rights, Kayumi said he had watched ISIS propaganda on his phone and that his actions were partly inspired by ISIS. Balat made statements in a police car saying, 'This isn't a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the Prophet. We take action ... If I didn't do it someone else will come and do it,' according to Tisch. Balat told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the extremist group, court documents state. When asked by law enforcement if he aimed for something like the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Balat responded that he hoped to accomplish something 'even bigger,' noting the Boston bombing caused three deaths, the complaint alleges.
The protest was organized by far-right provocateur Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 rioter, under the banner 'Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City' or similar. Lang had promoted the demonstration and promised to burn a Quran at the site, though he did not appear to follow through, according to multiple reports. A counter-protest, 'Run Nazis Out of New York City' or similar, drew about 100 to 125 people.
Balat and Kayumi face charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction after homemade bombs were tossed during protests near Mayor Zohran Mamdani's home on Saturday, court documents show. Specifically, they are charged with transportation of explosive materials; unlawful possession of destructive devices; and interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, according to the criminal complaint.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said it was initially unclear if the devices were actual explosives or hoaxes, and analysis is ongoing. Authorities found a car tied to the suspects containing another possible suspicious device and bomb-making materials, Tisch reported. The FBI conducted searches, including of a Pennsylvania storage unit, in connection with the investigation. The first improvised explosive device, which did not explode, was thrown as anti-Islam protesters clashed with counterprotesters. The same man who threw the IED lit a second bomb, dropped it on the street and ran, and it also did not explode, the police commissioner said. NYPD and FBI bomb technicians later conducted controlled detonations of the two IEDs from Saturday's protest, resulting in a significant explosion, according to Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner.
Mayor Mamdani issued a statement condemning the protest as rooted in bigotry and racism, and thanking NYPD for their response. The following night, Mayor Mamdani hosted Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former ICE detainee, for a Ramadan dinner at Gracie Mansion, multiple sources reported.
Rebecca Weiner said had the IEDs functioned as intended, they could have caused death and destruction.
Four other people were arrested in connection with the protest, including Ian McGuiness, 21, for allegedly using pepper spray on counter-protesters. New York City Comptroller Mark D. Levine said the two individuals arrested for use of ignitable devices were part of a counter-protest, not Lang's group, citing NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Conflicting reports exist about the functionality and nature of the explosive devices. While preliminary tests indicated they were improvised explosive devices capable of causing serious injury or death, it has not been determined whether they contained energetic material, leaving uncertainty about whether they were functional explosives or hoax devices. A third device found Sunday is being investigated in connection with Saturday's incident and tested negative for explosive material, according to the NYPD and Tisch. There is also confusion about the affiliation of those who threw the devices, with some reports indicating the men appeared to belong to the counter-protesters, while Comptroller Levine clarified they were part of the counter-protest, not Lang's group.
Officers were alerted to two suspicious devices at approximately 11:40 a.m. during a scheduled demonstration near East End Avenue and 88th Street. No injuries or property damage were reported. The entire incident was captured on NYPD Argus cameras, according to Comptroller Levine. In a separate incident, New York City police closed several streets and a park near Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence on Tuesday over a suspicious device, before clearing it and determining it posed no threat. The NYPD said East End Avenue between 85th and 87th streets and East 86th Street between York Avenue and East End Avenue were closed, and Carl Schurz Park was shut. The device was later cleared and found to be non-threatening, with the NYPD stating it was an instance of everyday New Yorkers following the 'If you see something, say something' message.
In a related case, Alexander Heifler, 26, was arrested in New Jersey for allegedly planning a violent attack against pro-Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani, with eight Molotov cocktails found in his home, authorities say. Mayor Mamdani said Heifler was an alleged member of the Jewish Defense League and attempted to blow up Kiswani's home.
Unrelated incidents include the arrest of Bairon Hernandez, an undocumented migrant, for allegedly shoving an Air Force veteran onto subway tracks; he had been deported four times previously, according to DHS reports. Additionally, Charlie Correa filmed three strange lights moving erratically in the sky over Queens on March 8, speculated to be UFOs or drones, multiple sources reported.
Key unknowns remain, including whether Mayor Zohran Mamdani and first lady Rama Duwaji were home at Gracie Mansion during the protest and attempted bombing. The exact number of counter-protesters present is reported as about 100 to 125, but precise figures are unconfirmed. It is also unclear whether the explosive devices were fully functional and capable of detonation, or if they were hoaxes, as conflicting reports exist on their energetic material content.
According to Phantom Fireworks Company Vice President William Weimer, Balat was seen on security footage buying a 20-foot roll of firework safety fuse at Phantom Fireworks in Penndel, Pennsylvania, on March 2. Images from the scene showed smoke and what appeared to be an unexploded homemade device. The incident came days after police determined that a device thrown during a protest outside Gracie Mansion was an improvised explosive capable of causing serious injury or death, with two men arrested and in custody.