Two men have been charged with terrorism-related offences after authorities said they attempted to bomb a protest outside the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in an attack allegedly inspired by the militant group Islamic State.
The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested after allegedly attempting to detonate explosive devices outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the city’s mayor.
According to police, the incident occurred on Saturday during an anti-Islam protest near the mayor’s home. None of the explosives detonated as intended.
Authorities said the suspects had prepared two explosive devices that were thrown during the protest. Investigators later discovered a third device inside a vehicle linked to the pair.
Video footage from the scene shows one of the suspects being detained moments after lighting one of the explosives, which failed to detonate.
Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Police Department, said the suspects admitted during questioning that they had been inspired by the Islamic State group and had viewed propaganda videos linked to the organisation.
She noted that neither suspect had a previous criminal record.
Both men now face multiple charges, including attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Tisch said authorities were fortunate the devices did not function as intended.
“We were fortunate that the devices used this weekend did not cause the kind of harm that they were certainly capable of causing,” she said during a news conference.
“Devices like these have the potential to cause devastating harm.”
According to police, Balat allegedly made statements supporting the Islamic State group while being transported to a police station.
Investigators said he told officers that if he had not carried out the attack, someone else would eventually do so.
Authorities also allege Balat said he hoped the attack would be larger than the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.
That bombing, carried out during the annual marathon race in Boston, killed three people and injured hundreds of runners and spectators.
During their first court appearance on Monday, both suspects appeared in prison jumpsuits before a federal magistrate judge, who ordered that they remain in custody until their next court hearing scheduled for April 8.
Following the hearing, Balat’s lawyer told reporters that his client is a high school senior and a US citizen with no previous arrests, adding that he has been dealing with personal difficulties.
The defence lawyers for both suspects have been contacted for further comment.
Court documents indicate that both men waived their constitutional right to remain silent after their arrest.
Investigators said Balat requested a sheet of paper and wrote a message pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group while calling for violence against nonbelievers.
Kayumi allegedly told investigators he had watched Islamic State propaganda videos on his phone and said they partly motivated the attempted attack.
In a statement after the arrests, Mayor Mamdani said the suspects should be fully held accountable.
“We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city,” he said.
Police officials also noted that the city remains on heightened security alert due to broader geopolitical tensions linked to the US-Israel war with Iran.
Authorities said forensic analysis of one of the explosive devices revealed it contained triacetone triperoxide, a highly volatile homemade explosive commonly associated with terrorist attacks.
Investigators said the device was constructed using a glass bottle filled with explosive material and surrounded by metal fragments such as nuts and bolts to increase potential damage.
Officers also located a vehicle on the Upper East Side connected to the suspects.
A bomb disposal robot deployed by the police discovered another explosive device inside the car that appeared consistent with the devices thrown during the protest.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the items recovered were improvised explosive devices.
The agency’s FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing the investigation, conducting interviews, reviewing video footage and collecting evidence.
Police said the protest near the mayor’s residence had been organised by far-right influencer Jake Lang, who previously received a pardon for his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
Authorities said the demonstration was outnumbered by more than 100 counter-protesters, and clashes occurred between the two groups.
During the unrest, police also arrested 21-year-old Ian McGuiness for allegedly using pepper spray on counter-protesters.
He and three other individuals were charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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