Two men have been charged with terrorism after police said they attempted to carry out a bombing outside the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a protest.
Authorities say the suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, tried to detonate two explosive devices near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor in New York City. Investigators later discovered a third explosive device inside a car connected to the suspects.
Police said the attack took place during an anti-Islam protest held outside the mayor’s residence. According to officials, the explosives failed to detonate as intended, which likely prevented serious injuries or deaths.
Footage from the scene shows one of the suspects being detained just seconds after lighting one of the devices. The explosive did not go off after it was ignited.
During a news conference, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspects admitted they had been inspired by propaganda from Islamic State (ISIS) and had watched videos produced by the extremist group. Police also said the two men had no prior criminal history.
The suspects are now facing several charges, including attempting to provide material support to ISIS and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Tisch said investigators believe the suspects hoped to carry out an attack larger than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, which killed three people and injured hundreds of others.
“We were fortunate that the devices used this weekend did not cause the kind of harm that they were certainly capable of causing,” Tischsaid during a news conference on Monday. “But luck is never a strategy. Devices like these have the potential to cause devastating harm.”
Tisch said one of the defendants, Balat, made several statements about ISIS while being transported to the police station, including saying: “If I didn’t do it, someone else will come and do it”.
Authorities said one of the suspects made statements while being transported to the police station, allegedly saying that if he did not carry out the attack, someone else eventually would.
Police later analyzed one of the devices and found it contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in previous terror attacks.
Investigators also located a vehicle tied to the suspects on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Using a robot, officers found another explosive device inside the car that was similar to the ones thrown at the protest.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the suspicious items were improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force said it is continuing to review videos, interview witnesses and gather evidence as the investigation continues.
The protest outside the mayor’s residence had been organised by far-right influencer Jake Lang, who previously received a pardon for his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack. Police said the protest group was outnumbered by more than 100 counter-protesters.
Videos from the scene show Balat throwing the first ignited device, which hit a barrier and extinguished itself. He then lit a second device before running and dropping it.
Officials said the explosives were made from glass bottles filled with explosive material and surrounded by metal fragments such as nuts and bolts, with a firework-style fuse attached.
Police also arrested 21-year-old Ian McGuiness, who allegedly used pepper spray on counter-protesters during the clash. He and three other people were charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction.
Mayor Mamdani condemned the violence in a statement, saying the anti-Islam protest itself was rooted in bigotry and racism. He also said the attempted bombing made the situation even more disturbing.
“Violence at a protest is never acceptable,” Mamdani said. “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible.”
