Balat and Kayumi Toss IEDs at Gracie Mansion; Prosecutors Charge Them With WMD Use

At a protest outside Gracie Mansion, two men identified by authorities as William (Emir) Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi threw improvised explosive devices during clashes between anti‑Islam demonstrators and counterprotesters and were arrested shortly afterward.

“New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday are being investigated as "an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism”

CBS News

Officials said both will face federal prosecution.

CBS News

CBS News reported that "Shortly after 12:30 p.m., counter-protester William Balat (identified in the report) lit and threw an ignited device at the anti‑Islam demonstrators, then took and lit a second device from a person named Kayumi before dropping it; both were arrested outside Gracie Mansion and will face federal prosecution, Tisch said."

CNN described the arrests and federal charges, saying two men, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested and federally charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction after homemade bombs were thrown during protests near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home.

The Staten Island Advance entry in the materials provided did not include full article text and requested the article be pasted, indicating that a local follow-up was not available in the set of sources provided here.

The sources differ on Balat's name and associated details: CBS refers to him as William Balat while CNN uses the name Emir Balat and provides ages for both men.

Law enforcement described the devices as viable IEDs that could have caused serious harm.

The NYPD Bomb Squad removed several devices made from sports-drink bottles placed inside glass jars, wrapped in tape, and packed with nuts and bolts, with fuses tied to fireworks.

CNN

CBS News reported that investigators said the devices were "made from sports-drink bottles placed inside glass jars, wrapped in tape, and packed with nuts and bolts; fuses were tied to fireworks and could have detonated on impact."

CNN added that bomb technicians carried out controlled detonations that produced "significant" explosions and warned that the devices "could have caused serious injury or death had they functioned as intended," while noting preliminary testing indicated the two Saturday devices were real IEDs rather than hoaxes.

The Staten Island Advance item in the dataset did not include a substantive local report to add detail and asked for the full article text.

Federal prosecutors filed multiple charges against the two men, including use of a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization, along with counts tied to transportation and possession of explosive materials.

“NEW YORK - Six people were arrested in dueling demonstrations outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday, according to the NYPD, including two people who were arrested for throwing "ignited devices" into the crowd”

KTVU FOX 2

CNN's summary of the complaint lists the charges: "Two men, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested and federally charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction ... Additional counts include transportation of explosive materials, unlawful possession of destructive devices, and interstate transportation/receipt of explosives."

CBS News likewise noted the men "will face federal prosecution," reflecting law enforcement's move to bring the case to the federal level.

The Staten Island Advance entry in the provided materials again did not supply a local article text that might add prosecutorial context or reaction.

Preliminary testing detected a highly volatile explosive in one device, and law enforcement cited statements and body-worn camera footage indicating the suspects were inspired by extremist propaganda.

CBS News reported that "Testing showed one device contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile homemade explosive."

Staten Island Advance

CNN relayed that post-arrest statements in the criminal complaint showed Kayumi saying "ISIS" when asked why he did it and admitting he had "watched ISIS propaganda and was partly inspired by it."

CNN also reported that Balat "reportedly pledged allegiance to the group and said, 'If I didn't do it someone else will,' adding he wanted an attack 'even bigger' than the Boston Marathon bombing."

CBS quoted officials saying they "see no link to the war in Iran but believe the suspects drew inspiration from other terrorist groups," reflecting investigative caution about broader geopolitical attribution.

The Staten Island Advance item in the package did not include a full account to corroborate or expand on those investigative details.

CNN said the two crossed the George Washington Bridge to get to the city and were arrested about an hour later, and noted both had no prior criminal histories.

“The parents of one of the two men accused in an attempted bombing near New York City’s Gracie Mansion are naturalized US citizens who immigrated from Afghanistan and own a suburban Pennsylvania home valued at about $2”

The Times of India

CBS News described confrontations at a protest outside Gracie Mansion, saying an attendee from the initial demonstration used pepper spray on counter-protesters.

The Times of India

CBS also reported that Mayor’s critic Mamdani — who was not at Gracie Mansion — condemned the protest as appalling while defending the right to peaceful protest.

CNN added local background about the suspects’ ages and cooperation from family and attorneys.

The Staten Island Advance entry contained no substantive follow-up in the provided materials and requested the full article be supplied.