Mayor Zohran Mamdani finally decried the ISIS-inspired actions of two teenagers who tried to detonate bombs outside Gracie Mansion, calling it a “heinous act of terrorism” — but still stopped short of calling out radical Islam in the wake of the failed, potentially deadly attack.
“Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi have been charged with committing a heinous act of terrorism and proclaiming their allegiance to ISIS,” Hizzoner said in a statement Monday afternoon, after a five-count federal complaint was unsealed against the two supporters of the Islamic State extremist group.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani finally decried the ISIS-inspired actions of two teenagers who tried to detonate bombs outside Gracie Mansion. AFP via Getty Images
“They should be held fully accountable for their actions,” he said, adding, “We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city.”
Just hours prior, Mamdani refused to even note the pair’s alleged allegiance to the specific terrorist group, during a press conference flanked by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who said the act was being investigated as “ISIS-inspired terrorism.”
“There’s video of these two individuals throwing two devices towards the protest,” he said Monday morning, slamming the anti-Muslim demonstration organized outside the mayoral residence on Saturday by far-right agitator Jake Lang.
“The police department has determined that these were improvised explosive devices made to injure, maim, or worse,” he said.
“They are suspected of coming here to commit an act of terrorism,” he said of Balat, 18, and Kayumi, 19, who are accused of using a weapon of mass destruction while supporting a foreign terror group, among other charges.
He added, “Let me say this plainly: Anyone who comes to New York City to bring violence to our streets will be held accountable in accordance with the law.”
Emir Balat chucks a bomb at Gracie Mansion in the direction of NYPD officers. AFP via Getty Images
Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of the city, first addressed the attack on Sunday in a mealy-mouthed statement, again focusing on the anti-Muslim protest — but not directly commenting on the alleged bomb tossers.
“Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are,” the statement said.
“What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”
The mayor dodged questions Monday as to why he only issued a statement and failed to join the city’s top cop at press conferences over the weekend.
The pair of Muslim fanatics allegedly built a homemade bomb with “Mother of Satan” — triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, a volatile explosive commonly used by international terrorists.
The two men allegedly hurled the devices into the crowd as counterprotesters turned out against right-wing agitator Lang, who was holding an anti-Muslim demonstration dubbed “Stop the Islamification of NYC.”
“This was a vile protest rooted in white supremacy,” Mamdani said at the top of his prepared remarks Monday morning.
Ibrahim Kayumi and Emir Balat, who were counter-protesters at an anti-Islam protest outside the Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, sit before a federal judge while charged with five federal crimes, including use of a weapon of mass destruction, in New York City. REUTERS
“I’m the first Muslim mayor of our city, anti-Muslim bigotry is nothing new to me, nor is it anything new for the 1 million or so Muslim New Yorkers,” he said, adding, “While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen.”
Mamdani and his wife were not home on Saturday. Instead, the couple spent the day at the New York City Sign Museum in Brooklyn.
Cops initially believed the devices tossed were merely homemade smoke grenades. But they were later determined to be highly volatile bombs that failed to go off.
“These were not hoax devices, nor smoke devices,” Tisch said.
“It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”
Balat allegedly shockingly told detectives he hoped the casualty count would surpass that of the tragic bombing of the Boston Marathon back in 2013.
“No, even bigger. It was only three deaths,” he said, according to the complaint.
The FBI took over the investigation on Sunday and searched the two suspects’ homes in Bucks County, just outside Philadelphia.