Throwing of Explosive Devices Near Mamdani’s Mayoral Mansion Investigated as ‘Act of ISIS-Inspired Terrorism’: What to Know

Two men accused of throwing homemade bombs during a clash between far-right demonstrators and counterprotesters outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence on Saturday said they were inspired by ISIS, according to a court complaint filed on Monday.

Federal prosecutors have charged Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi with five counts, Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a press conference Monday afternoon: “Attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization; use of a weapon of mass destruction; transportation of explosive materials; interstate transportation and receipt of explosives; and unlawful possession of destructive devices.” The men were arraigned on Monday afternoon in federal court in Manhattan. 

According to the complaint, Kayumi, 19, said that ISIS was the reason for his actions and later told authorities that he was affiliated with the Islamic State extremist group. Balat, 18, also told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the terrorist group, per the complaint.

When asked if he intended to carry out an attack similar to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, in which two bombs killed three people at the finish line and injured hundreds of others, Balat responded, “No, even bigger,” the complaint reads.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch earlier on Monday said that the incident was being investigated as “an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.”

Tisch also said at a news conference on Monday that at least one of the devices, neither of which exploded, contained “a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in IED attacks around the world” called TATP, or triacetone triperoxide. 

Speaking outside Gracie Mansion alongside Tisch, Mamdani said that the two devices thrown at the protests were “meant to injure, maim, or worse,” while a third was found inside a vehicle near the scene of the protest. Tisch said the third device did not contain explosive material.

The incident occurred during a skirmish between counterprotesters and an anti-Islam protest led by far-right activist Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion. Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, on Monday called the demonstration “vile” and “rooted in white supremacy.”

He added, however, that “While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen. I will defend that right every day I am mayor, even when those protesting say things that I abhor."

Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji were not at home at the time of the incident.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul thanked first responders to the incident on X and added: “There is no place for violence of any kind in our State and those responsible for this cowardly act will be held accountable.”

After Balat and Kayumi were indicted Monday afternoon, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted, “We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation. Our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant.

Here’s what we know so far.

What happened?

Balata and Kayumi crossed the George Washington Bridge at 11:36 a.m. on Saturday, parked in front of 48 East End Avenue between 81st and 82nd streets at 12:05 p.m., and ignited and threw the devices at approximately 12:15 p.m., Tisch said on Monday..

The devices, Tisch said at a Saturday news conference, were smaller than a football and appeared to be a jar wrapped in black tape that contained nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit. Tisch said an 18-year-old counterprotester, who was later identified as Balat, threw an ignited device toward the protest area. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke when it flew, but the device “struck a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers,” the commissioner added. No one was injured.

Kayumi is accused of supplying one of the projectiles, police said. Both men were arrested at the scene. Four other protesters were also arrested, including Ian McGinnis, 21, who was accused of using pepper spray against the counterprotesters. 

The FBI said in a Sunday statement that its Joint Terrorism Task Force was assisting city police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York with the investigation. 

As the investigation continued on Sunday, the NYPD said they had identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street, prompting an evacuation of nearby buildings. Police removed the device safely a few hours later, and the area was reopened.  

A preliminary analysis by the New York Police Department’s bomb squad determined that one of the devices was “not a hoax device or a smoke bomb” but an improvised explosive that “could have caused serious injury or death,” Tisch said on Sunday.

What do we know about those linked to the bomb?

CBS News reported that Balat, a U.S. citizen, lived with his parents in Pennsylvania. Balat’s parents were born in Turkey and were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 2017. Meanwhile, Kayumi’s parents were reportedly originally from Afghanistan, becoming naturalized citizens in 2004 and 2009.

ABC-operated WPVI-TV reported that FBI agents raided the homes of Kayumi and Balat in Newtown and Langhorne, respectively, both in Bucks County, Pa.

Speaking to the New York Times, Kayumi’s father Khayer Kayumi said they began searching for their son after he did not return home on Saturday afternoon. “If he’s going to be five minutes late, he calls,” the older Kayumi said. “We didn’t know what was going on.”

Tisch said on Monday that Balat made “spontaneous statements” on his way to the NYPD precinct, saying, “This isn't a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the Prophet. We take action. We take action.” 

“If I didn't do it, someone else will come and do it,” he continued, Tisch said. Balat allegedly later requested pen and paper and wrote a message declaring, “I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage, you kuffar,” using an Arabic word for non-believers. 

Rebecca Weiner, deputy commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism at the NYPD, commented on the radicalization of young people at the press conference on Monday. 

“This is very much in keeping with the trend that we are seeing among ISIS-inspired adherence, both in the country as well as throughout the West Younger and younger individuals who are radicalizing and mobilizing to violence.”