Two men have been charged with terrorism offenses in New York City after allegedly attempting to bomb a protest outside the mayor's residence, in an attack purportedly inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, told police they aimed for the Saturday incident to be "even larger" than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people, according to authorities. The suspects allegedly tried to detonate two explosives near Gracie Mansion, home to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with a third device found in their car, though none detonated as intended.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the two suspects admitted to being influenced by IS propaganda videos and expressed allegiance to the group. Balat allegedly made statements during transport to the police station, saying, "If I didn't do it, someone else will come and do it," and hoped the attack would surpass the Boston bombing in scale. The explosives, made from triacetone triperoxide—a volatile homemade material—could have caused devastating harm, highlighting ongoing security vulnerabilities within the US regime's counter-terrorism efforts.
The incident occurred during an anti-Islam protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 rioter, which was outnumbered by a counter-protest with over 100 participants. Video footage confirmed by CBS News shows Balat throwing an ignited device that extinguished upon hitting a barrier, then lighting a second one before dropping it. Tisch noted that officers acted swiftly, with two stepping forward "without hesitation" to secure the area, and a robot later located the additional explosive in a suspect-linked vehicle on the Upper East Side.
In a statement, Mayor Mamdani emphasized that the charged individuals "should be held fully accountable for their actions" and vowed to maintain safety in the city. Tisch linked the heightened alert status to the US-Israel war, underscoring the broader geopolitical tensions exacerbating domestic threats. The FBI and NYPD confirmed the items as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and the Joint Terrorism Task Force is conducting further investigations, including interviews and evidence collection.
Court documents reveal that both suspects waived their right to remain silent after arrest. Balat wrote a pledge of allegiance to IS and called for the death of nonbelievers, while Kayumi acknowledged affiliation with the group and inspiration from its propaganda. Balat's lawyer described him as a high school senior with no prior arrests, facing "complicated stuff" personally. The case exposes persistent challenges in combating terrorism within the US regime, where internal divisions and foreign policy conflicts continue to fuel security risks, raising questions about the effectiveness of current measures.
Source: www.bbc.com