The sign outside of Neshaminy High School. File photo.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
After an 18-year-old Neshaminy High School student was detained Saturday after homemade incendiary devices were located, the school district told parents that students are safe.
Emir Balat, 18, of the Langhorne section of Middletown Township, is a student at the high school in Middletown Township.
The 18-year-old man and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown Township, have been held by the NYPD and FBI since their detainment Saturday after a confrontation in New York City.
Neshaminy Superintendent Jason Bowman wrote a note to parents Sunday night after FBI raids at the homes of both men earlier that day.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
While Bowman did not name the student, he sought to reassure the community.
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“The school district administration has been in communication with local law enforcement and will continue to work closely with them, as we routinely do, to remain informed and support our school community,” Bowman said.
A district security SUV outside Neshaminy High School. File photo.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The superintendent added that there is currently “no information indicating any concerns related to our schools” and confirmed that classes will operate on a normal schedule with standard security measures.
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The investigation, which involves the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, is exploring potential ties to international terrorism.
According to an NBC News report, one of the men referred to ISIS during questioning.
As of Sunday night, Balat and Kayumi had not been formally charged.
“As always, we encourage families to speak with their children about issues and let us know if concerns arise. If any student has concerns or needs support in school, they should speak with a trusted staff member, counselor, or school administrator,” Bowman said in his note.
The arrests came after a Saturday afternoon clash between dueling protesters near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohron Mamdani.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Balat ignited a device and threw it toward a crowd after an anti-Muslim protester used pepper spray. The device hit a barrier and extinguished in a crosswalk near police officers.
Tisch said Balat then fled, obtained a second device from Kayumi, and dropped it while running.
Officers arrested both men at the scene.
The NYPD bomb squad recovered two devices, each roughly the size of a football.
Tisch described the items as jars wrapped in black tape, filled with nuts, bolts, and screws, and equipped with a “hobby fuse.”
An NYPD official confirmed Sunday that at least one item was an “improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”
A third “suspicious device” was reportedly found Sunday in a car connected to the suspects near the scene, according to the New York Daily News.
The incident occurred during a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” rally led by Jake Lang, a far-right influencer. The anti-Muslim event was met by a larger counterprotest.
The dueling protests happened during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
Mayor Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, was inside the residence at the time with his wife, according to NBC 4 NY.
“The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are,” Mamdani said in a statement.
Below is Bowman’s full note to parents:
Dear Neshaminy School Community,
We are aware of the news reports over the weekend about an 18-year-old Middletown resident and Neshaminy School District student. We understand that events receiving significant media attention can raise questions for families, staff, and students.
Please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. The school district administration has been in communication with local law enforcement and will continue to work closely with them, as we routinely do, to remain informed and support our school community.
At this time, there is no information indicating any concerns related to our schools. Our regular safety and security practices remain in place, and our schools will continue to operate as normal.
As always, we encourage families to speak with their children about issues and let us know if concerns arise. If any student has concerns or needs support in school, they should speak with a trusted staff member, counselor, or school administrator.
We appreciate the continued partnership of our families and community in helping maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students.
Sincerely,
Jason Bowman Superintendent, Neshaminy School District