Teens throw homemade bombs outside New York City mayor's office, saying they were 'inspired by ISIS'

New York City authorities are investigating an incident involving improvised explosive devices. They were thrown near Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence during protests over the weekend. Police are treating the incident as an act of terrorism, according to reports. NBC.

Ibrahim Qayoumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18, were charged federally in connection with the March 7 incident.

According to a federal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, they are accused of:

• illegal possession and use of "weapons of mass destruction";
• transportation of explosives;
• attempting to provide assistance to a "designated foreign terrorist organization."

Mayor of Zohran Mamdani said the suspects "committed a heinous act of terrorism and declared their allegiance to ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant)."

"They must be held fully accountable for their actions. We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe and will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city," the mayor said in a statement.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that authorities have no information linking the investigation to events in Iran. The investigation is related to a joint US-Israeli military operation in that country.

What happened during the protests

The incident occurred near the mayor's residence, Gracie Mansion, during an anti-Islamic demonstration and counter-protest.

The objects thrown were improvised explosive devices designed to injure people or cause more serious harm.

On the subject: A huge immigration scandal has erupted in New York around a student from Azerbaijan: even Mamdani and Trump have intervened.

The third suspicious item found at the scene did not contain explosives.

One of the devices contained a dangerous and highly unstable homemade explosive, but it failed to detonate. There were no injuries.

Court hearing

In federal court on March 9, lawyers for the suspects asked for protective custody for their clients at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Both will remain in custody pending a bail hearing.

Emir Balat's lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said after the hearing that his client needed protection.

"This is a publicly announced terrorism trial. This is New York. He's 18 years old. He's in a general prison population in a place they call a hellhole. We want to keep him safe," the lawyer said.

According to Essmidi, Balat is a senior at a Pennsylvania high school with three classes remaining before graduation. The lawyer noted that the teenager is experiencing "difficult circumstances in his personal life."

According to the document, Balat and Qayumi attempted to detonate two explosive devices near the Gracie Mansion in Manhattan during protests.

Preliminary examination results showed that one of the devices contained "a highly unstable explosive that has been used in several terrorist attacks over the past decade."

The complaint states that the suspects mentioned ISIS when they were arrested.

Footage from a police officer's body camera shows Qayumi answering a question from a crowd member about the reason for the attack: "ISIS."

Investigators also claim that after their arrest, both suspects made statements referencing ISIS after they had been read their rights.

According to investigators, Balat wrote on a piece of paper that he “pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.”

Possible radicalization

Jessica Tisch declined to comment on whether investigators believe the teenagers were recruited or radicalized independently. However, Deputy Police Commissioner Rebecca Weiner stated that there has been an increase in online youth radicalization.

According to her, this problem concerns not only ISIS.

"It exists across the ideological spectrum," Weiner clarified.

According to her, the New York City police and the FBI conducted controlled detonations of the devices found. Tests showed they were capable of causing a serious explosion. Such devices are capable of causing death and significant destruction.

"We will not allow ISIS's toxic, anti-American ideology to threaten this country. Our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant," assured U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

How the suspects arrived in New York

An automatic license plate reader system detected the car Balat and Qayumi drove into New York from New Jersey approximately an hour before the incident.

The car was registered to one of Balat's relatives. It was later discovered a few blocks from the scene of the arrest.

Inside they found:

• fuse for an explosive device;
• empty metal can;
• A notebook containing a list of chemical ingredients and components that can be used to make explosives.

Balat and Kayumi are residents of Pennsylvania.

Before his arrest, Kayumi's mother filed a missing persons report. She reported that she last saw her son on the morning of March 7.

About the protests

Mayor of Zohran Mamdani confirmed that he and his wife, Rama Duvaji, were at a Brooklyn museum at the time of the incident. Authorities had previously reported that they were at the Gracie Mansion.

According to Mamdani, the suspects came from Pennsylvania and attempted to commit violence in New York.

"There is a video of these two people throwing two devices towards the protesters," he said.

The anti-Muslim demonstration took place under the slogan Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer.

The protest was led by conservative influencer Jake Lang. According to police, approximately 20 people participated in the demonstration. The counterprotest attracted approximately 125 participants.

Mamdani declared the anti-Muslim protest a "disgusting protest rooted in white supremacy." He said he was all too familiar with anti-Muslim hatred.

"It affects approximately 1 million Muslim New Yorkers," the mayor stated.

At the same time, Mamdani emphasized that he supports people’s right to peaceful protest.

"I find this protest disgusting, but I will not abandon my belief that it should have the right to take place," he said.

"We live in a free society where the right to peaceful protest is sacred. It belongs not only to those with whom we agree. It belongs to everyone. I will defend this right every day as long as I remain mayor, even when protesters say things I hate," Mamdani concluded.