Two ISIS-Inspired Men Bring Explosives to Protest Outside NYC Mayor Mamdani; Police Arrest Them

Two Pennsylvania men, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested after throwing or hurling homemade explosive devices outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence during chaotic counterprotests to a small anti‑Islam demonstration at Gracie Mansion.

“NEW YORK -- Two men who brought explosives to a protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, a court complaint said”

ABC

Authorities said the arrests followed clashes between counterprotesters and an anti‑Islam rally, and that the devices did not detonate.

ABC

The incident drew condemnation from city and federal officials.

Law enforcement described the devices as jar-sized containers filled with the explosive TATP, fitted with fuses and surrounded by duct-taped nuts and bolts.

Officers recovered one device that had extinguished near police, and a second device and the suspects' vehicle.

CBC.ca

Police also found bomb-making materials and lists of chemical components, and searches were carried out in Pennsylvania.

Officials emphasized the devices did not explode.

Authorities say both suspects expressed inspiration or affiliation with the Islamic State.

“Two men are in custody as police say a device thrown during protests outside NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's home was a potentially deadly IED”

Quad-City Times

Court documents and a federal complaint report that Balat pledged allegiance and said he wanted an attack "even bigger" than the Boston Marathon bombing.

Kayumi reportedly blurted "ISIS" during his arrest.

Federal and local officials have characterized the incident as ideologically motivated.

The FBI described it as an attempted terror attack meant to incite mass fear and suffering.

Both men were arraigned on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.

They are being held without bail.

WSAZ NewsChannel 3 West Virginia

Their lawyers declined to argue for bail at the arraignment and raised concerns about prejudicial publicity.

Officials said neither had a criminal history.

The arraignment and charges were filed in federal court Monday.

Investigators traced the suspects’ movements into the city using an automated license‑plate reader that showed they entered from New Jersey shortly before the incident, and Kayumi’s mother had filed a missing‑person report after last seeing him mid‑morning.

“NEW YORK -- Two men who brought explosives to a protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, a court complaint said”

ABC

Authorities recovered the vehicle and searched locations in Pennsylvania, and one local news item noted police said there was no known link between the suspects and the war in Iran.

ABC

Separately, a participant in the anti‑Islam protest—identified by one outlet as Ian McGinnis—was arrested for allegedly pepper‑spraying counterprotesters and later released.