One of the accused terrorists busted for lobbing explosive devices near Gracie Mansion flashed a sick salute honoring ISIS as he was led in shackles from a police precinct Monday.

Emir Balat, 18, was seen holding up his right index finger — a universal salute for the terror group — and grinning at the press while being led by a cop and an FBI agent.

Balat, wearing a black T-shirt and beige pants, made the gesture before one of the officers flanking him slapped down his hand.

Emir Balat was seen holding up his finger, a universal salute for ISIS. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

ISIS fighters have often used the index finger gesture in their propaganda, and is also used by many Muslims to demonstrate their commitment to monotheism. DOJ

ISIS fighters have often used the index finger gesture in their propaganda. The gesture is also used by many Muslims to demonstrate their commitment to monotheism.

Balat, whose parents are reportedly from Turkey but who became naturalized citizens in 2017, was arrested Saturday along with 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi after a homemade “Mother of Satan” bomb was thrown at protesters outside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Upper East Side residence.

Law enforcement sources told The Post that Balat used the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) after his police interview.

Balat, a student in the Neshaminy School District in Pennsylvania, was allegedly recorded on a police body camera after his arrest saying that when someone insults the name of the prophet Muhammad, “We take action,” a law enforcement source said.

ISIS rebel militant soldiers on the frontline in 2013. ZUMAPRESS.com

The NYPD and FBI transport Emir Balat, who is holding up his finger as he leaves the police precinct on Monday, March 9, 2026. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

A courtroom sketch of Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi in Manhattan federal court on March 9, 2026 for their arraignments. Elizabeth Williams via AP

When asked during his police interview why he carried out the failed attack, Kayumi allegedly said he had done it for ISIS, according to the sources.

The pair was expected to face federal charges on Monday.  

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Saturday’s incident was being treated as an attempted ISIS-inspired terror attack.

A homemade bomb from the scene upclose. Obtained by the NY Post

Bolts, nuts, and screws inside one of the homemade explosive devices. Obtained by the NY Post

Emir Balat holds a homemade explosive device before throwing it towards police during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged “Islamification” in front of Gracie Mansion over the weekend. AFP via Getty Images

Balat reportedly grew up in a four-bed two-bath home in the leafy Pennsylvania suburb of Langhorne, worth an estimated $653,000, while his alleged sidekick lived in a $2.25 million six-bedroom home near the New Jersey border.

Here’s the latest on the bombs thrown outside Gracie Mansion

Agents were seen raiding Balat’s home following his arrest, as a “terror investigation” is reportedly underway.

Emir Balat smirks as he’s led into a police vehicle on Monday, March 9, 2026. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

Ibrahim Kayumi is handcuffed as he’s escorted out of the police precinct on Monday, March 9, 2026. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

The two teenagers reportedly made pro-ISIS statements while in police custody, and admitted to watching Islamist terror propaganda videos, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News correspondent CB Cotton.

Balat is accused of lighting and dropping a “Mother of Satan” improvised homemade explosive near the police on Saturday at around 12:30 p.m., according to cops and sources.

The device, which consisted of a sports drink bottle filled with volatile explosive material TATP, set inside a glass jar surrounded by nuts and bolts, could have been fatal if it had detonated, police said.