Two young men have been charged with terrorism-related offences after authorities said they attempted to carry out a bombing during 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 improvised explosive devices near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor.
According to law enforcement officials, the incident occurred on Saturday during an anti-Islam protest held near the mayor’s home. Authorities said two explosive devices were thrown during the demonstration, but neither detonated as intended.
Investigators later discovered a third explosive device inside a vehicle linked to the suspects. Video footage from the scene reportedly captured one of the men being detained shortly after lighting one of the devices, which failed to explode.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspects admitted during questioning that they had been influenced by propaganda linked to the Islamic State group.
She noted that neither of the suspects had any prior criminal record.
Both men now face several serious charges, including attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group and the use of a weapon of mass destruction.
“We were fortunate that the devices used this weekend did not cause the kind of harm they were capable of causing,” Tisch said during a press briefing. “Devices like these have the potential to inflict devastating damage.”
Police said Balat allegedly made statements praising the Islamic State group while being transported to a police station, reportedly telling officers that if he had not carried out the attack, someone else eventually would.
Investigators also claim he expressed hope that the planned attack would exceed the scale of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured hundreds.
During their first court appearance on Monday, the suspects appeared before a federal magistrate judge in prison jumpsuits. The court ordered that they remain in custody pending their next 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 challenges.
Court documents indicate that both suspects waived their constitutional right to remain silent after their arrest. Investigators say 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 several Islamic State propaganda videos on his phone, which he said partly motivated the attempted attack.
In a statement issued after the arrests, Mayor Mamdani said the suspects must be held fully accountable.
“We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city,” he said.
Authorities also noted that security in New York City remains heightened due to wider geopolitical tensions connected to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Forensic analysis of one of the recovered devices revealed it contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile homemade explosive frequently associated with terrorist attacks.
Investigators said the device was constructed using a glass bottle filled with explosive material and packed with metal fragments, including nuts and bolts, intended to maximise damage.
Police later located a vehicle on the Upper East Side linked to the suspects. A bomb disposal robot deployed to the scene discovered another explosive device inside the car that appeared similar to the ones thrown during the protest.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the recovered items were improvised explosive devices and said its Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing the investigation.
Officials said detectives are conducting interviews, analysing surveillance footage and gathering additional evidence.
Police also disclosed that the protest near the mayor’s residence had been organised by far-right influencer Jake Lang, who previously received a pardon for his involvement in the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol.
Authorities said the demonstration was heavily outnumbered by more than 100 counter-protesters, leading to clashes between the groups.
During the confrontation, police arrested 21-year-old Ian McGuiness for allegedly deploying pepper spray against counter-protesters. He and three other individuals were subsequently charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction.
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