Crime09 March, 20262 min read
Bucks County Men Inspired by ISIS Brought Explosives to NYC Mayoral Mansion, Face Terrorism Charges
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Brought explosives to a protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion Said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group
Explosives at mayor's residence
Two young men from Bucks County, Pennsylvania — 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi — were arrested after allegedly bringing and hurling homemade explosive devices at counterprotests outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence. The devices did not detonate.
“Two men from Bucks County, Pennsylvania — 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi — were arrested after allegedly bringing and hurling homemade explosive devices at counterprotests outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, federal prosecutors said.”
Both were arraigned on federal charges including attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. They are being held without bail.
Alleged Islamic State ties
Prosecutors and court filings say both suspects expressed support for or were inspired by the Islamic State. Kayumi allegedly blurted 'ISIS' during his arrest, and Balat later said he had pledged allegiance. Balat reportedly told investigators he hoped to carry out an attack 'even bigger' than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and officials and media accounts cite those statements as central to the terrorism charges.
Recovered device descriptions
Reports vary on the devices and materials recovered but point to improvised explosive attempts. Some outlets reported jars packed with nuts, screws and bolts and hobby fuses. Other outlets said the devices were reportedly filled with the explosive TATP, fitted with fuses and surrounded by duct-taped nuts and bolts.
“Police said two suspected devices recovered after an attack at an anti‑Muslim protest were jars filled with nuts, screws and bolts; a third suspicious item taken from a car on East End Avenue also tested negative for explosives.”
Searches of the suspects' vehicle found a fuse, a metal can and written lists of chemical ingredients and components that could be used to make explosives. These accounts contradict each other on key details, notably whether the devices contained nuts and bolts or TATP.
Tracking, raids and charges
Authorities say they tracked the suspects' approach into New York and executed searches in Pennsylvania. An automated license plate reader reportedly tracked the vehicle entering via the George Washington Bridge. Police located the car a few blocks from the arrests.
The FBI carried out raids at the suspects' homes in Langhorne and Newtown. Federal prosecutors pursued terrorism charges.
Clash at Gracie Mansion
The clash occurred amid a small but contentious anti-Muslim demonstration organized by far-right activist Jake Lang, during which roughly 125 counterprotesters confronted the rally.
“Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Tisch held a briefing at Gracie Mansion, condemning the far‑right protest organized by Jake Lang—during which the attack occurred amid a clash with about 125 counterprotesters—while defending the right to protest.”
Mayor Mamdani and other city officials condemned the protest as "vile" and said no one at Gracie Mansion was harmed and there was no indication the incident was connected to the war in Iran.
