{"id":158673,"date":"2026-03-10T00:57:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T00:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/158673\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T00:57:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T00:57:22","slug":"wmd-throwing-suspects-wanted-their-isis-inspired-plot-near-mamdanis-home-to-rival-boston-marathon-attack-feds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/158673\/","title":{"rendered":"WMD-throwing suspects wanted their \u2018ISIS-inspired\u2019 plot near Mamdani\u2019s home to rival Boston marathon attack: feds"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Evening<\/p>\n

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the US<\/p>\n

\"Evening<\/p>\n

Two young men accused of bringing \u201cweapons of mass destruction\u201d explosives to an anti-Islamic protest outside the New York City mayor\u2019s residence<\/a> were inspired by ISIS and sought to outdo the carnage wrought by the Boston Marathon bombers, federal prosecutors said Monday.<\/p>\n

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, have been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to ISIS, among other related crimes, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan.<\/p>\n

Balat, a senior in high school in Pennsylvania, reportedly told investigators he wanted an attack to be \u201ceven bigger\u201d than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, when two pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds of others, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

Kayumi allegedly shouted out that he was inspired by ISIS while he was being arrested<\/a>, prosecutors say.<\/p>\n

There does not appear to be any connection between the men\u2019s alleged bomb-throwing and the U.S.-Israel war in Iran<\/a>, according to police.<\/p>\n

\"Emir<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

Emir Balat allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing, according to federal prosecutors in New York City (REUTERS)<\/p>\n

During their first appearance in federal court Monday, attorneys for Balat and Kayumi requested protective custody for their clients at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

They will remain in custody pending an application for bail.<\/p>\n

Two improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, were ignited outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday during a volatile protest led by far-right, anti-Islam activist Jake Lang<\/a>, whose group was met with an even larger group of counter-protesters.<\/p>\n

Lang organized the \u201cStop the Islamic Takeover of New York City\u201d demonstration and was joined by as many as 20 others. A counter protest, \u201cRun the Nazis out of New York City’s Stand Against Hate Group,\u201d attracted at least five times as many activists.<\/p>\n

\"Ibrahim<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

Ibrahim Kayumi allegedly said he was inspired by ISIS to carry out an alleged attack outside Gracie Mansion (REUTERS)<\/p>\n

Neither New York City Zohran Mamdani nor first lady Rama Duwaji were inside the property at the time of the alleged attack.<\/p>\n

Video from the scene shows a man shouting \u201cAllahu Akbar\u201d before throwing what Tish described as a \u201cjar wrapped in tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the devices contained triacetone triperoxide, \u201ca dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in IED attacks around the world,\u201d according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.<\/p>\n

The device appeared to have extinguished itself as it rolled towards officers. Another device that was dropped at the scene did not appear to ignite, Tisch said.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

Two improvised explosive devices were discovered outside the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a protest led by an anti-Muslim activist, who faced off with a larger counter demonstration (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

As officers placed Kayumi inside an NYPD car on Saturday, a person from the crowd shouted out asking \u201cwhy he had done this,\u201d according to the criminal complaint.<\/p>\n

In his response, allegedly captured on NYPD body-worn camera footage, Kayumi responded \u201cISIS,\u201d the complaint states.<\/p>\n

Both teens also referred to ISIS in recorded post-arrest statements they made after receiving and waiving their Miranda rights, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet \u2026 We take action! We take action!\u201d Balant allegedly said on his way to a police precinct after his arrest, according to the complaint, which says his comments were recorded on camera. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I didn\u2019t do it someone else will come and do it,\u201d he said, the complaint states.<\/p>\n

Balat also allegedly wrote on a piece of paper that he \u201cpledge[d] allegience [sic] to the Islamic State\u201d and wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing.<\/p>\n

Asked by law enforcement officers whether he was familiar with the Boston Marathon bombing, and if that was what he set out to accomplish, he allegedly replied: responded: “No, even bigger. It was only three deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayumi also said he watched ISIS footage on his phone and was \u201cpartly inspired\u201d by ISIS, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

A man is seen throwing an improvised explosive device during protests in New York City on March 7. Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested immediately after the alleged attack (REUTERS)<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Lang organized a similar rally in Minneapolis in support of Trump\u2019s surge of federal immigration officers, drawing a massive crowd of counterprotesters<\/a> that quickly chased him away.<\/p>\n

Police at the scene \u201cfaced a chaotic situation that very quickly could have become far more dangerous,\u201d Mamdani said Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen,\u201d added Mamdani, who is the city\u2019s first Muslim mayor. \u201cI will defend that right every day I am mayor, even when those protesting say things that I abhor.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement following their indictment, Mamdani said the teens \u201cshould be held fully accountable for their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158674,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[9,24,55,54,56],"class_list":{"0":"post-158673","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york-city","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-new-york-city-headlines","11":"tag-new-york-city-news","12":"tag-ny"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}