Explosives thrown near NYC mayor’s home being investigated as ‘ISIS-inspired’ terrorism, officials say
NYC Mayor’s Residence Near Explosives Linked to ISIS-Inspired Terrorism, Officials Report
During weekend demonstrations, two individuals hurled improvised explosives near the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Monday that the incident is under investigation as a potential act of “ISIS-inspired terrorism.” The suspects, Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18, are facing federal charges connected to the event. Both were accused of unlawfully possessing and using a “weapon of mass destruction,” transporting explosives, and attempting to assist a designated foreign terrorist organization, as outlined in a federal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Terrorism Investigation Unfolds
Mayor Mamdani emphasized in a statement that the suspects “committed a heinous act of terrorism and proclaimed their allegiance to ISIS.” He vowed to hold them accountable, stating, “We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city.” Tisch clarified during a news conference that the investigation “does not have information linking it to current events in Iran,” though the U.S. and Israeli military actions there remain a point of reference.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments
Monday’s federal court hearing saw attorneys for Balat and Kayumi request protective custody for their clients at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Mehdi Essmidi, Balat’s lawyer, explained to NBC News, “This is a publicly declared terror trial, 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 noted Balat, a Pennsylvania high school senior nearing graduation, is dealing with “complicated stuff going on in his personal life.”
Incident Details and Device Analysis
The devices were thrown near Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official home, during a protest and counter-protest. Tisch described them as “improvised explosive devices made to injure, maim or worse.” A third suspicious object tested negative for explosive material. One of the devices contained a dangerous homemade explosive, though none detonated, and no one was harmed. Federal prosecutors claim the pair aimed to “inflict mass casualties in service to ISIS,” hoping to surpass the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing’s impact.
ISIS Allegiances and Motives
The complaint details how Balat ignited one device and hurled it at protesters before receiving a second from Kayumi. He then ignited the second near police officers, fled the scene, and leapt over a barricade before being subdued. Both confessed their alignment with ISIS after being apprehended, according to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. Kayumi reportedly viewed ISIS propaganda on his phone, while Balat wrote a statement pledging allegiance to the Islamic State. Their actions were described as an attempt to “exceed the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombing,” with federal law enforcement noting the explosive material used was “highly volatile” and appeared in past terrorist attacks.
Context of Online Radicalization
Tisch declined to specify whether the teens were recruited or self-radicalized when asked about the suspects’ motives. Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner, however, addressed broader concerns about rising online radicalization among youth, highlighting the role of digital platforms in spreading extremist ideologies.
