NEW YORK (KWTX) — CNN deleted a social media post about two ISIS supporters charged with attempting to detonate explosive devices at a protest outside Gracie Mansion after the post drew widespread criticism for its framing of the incident.
The original CNN post on X described the two suspects as “Two Pennsylvania teenagers” who “crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather.” The post continued: “But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs.”
CNN deletes post on NYC ISIS attempted bomb attack after backlash over framing(CNN/X)
In reality, federal prosecutors say Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both of Pennsylvania, attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices packed with TATP at the protest. Both suspects told NYPD officers after their arrests that they were aligned with ISIS. Balat allegedly told law enforcement he hoped to exceed the death toll of the Boston Marathon bombing.
After backlash for what appeared to be a downplay of the severity of the incident, CNN later posted a statement on X acknowledging the deletion. “A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting,” CNN said. “It has therefore been deleted.”
CNN deletes post on NYC ISIS attempted bomb attack after backlash over framing(CNN/X)Backlash on social media
The CNN post drew criticism from multiple public figures and accounts. Rep. Eli Crane responded to the CNN post, saying: “Who writes this garbage? They are radical Islamic terrorists.”
Rep. Eli Crane responded to the CNN post(Rep. Eli Crane/X)
Missouri GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt posted that CNN “got this headline wrong,” and offered an alternative: “Two radical Islamic terrorists came to NYC pledging allegiance to ISIS with bombs meant to kill Americans.”
The Rapid Response 47 account also weighed in, saying: “No, they’re radical Islamic terrorists who threw an IED at a protest. We don’t do that in America.”
Fox News host Sean Hannity shared a story on X calling the CNN post “‘an absolute disgrace,’” and described it as “‘the worst post ever.’”
Sean Hannity comments on CNNs deleted post(Sean Hannity/X)
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