Pa. Men Charged in ISIS-Inspired Bomb Attack on NYC Protest by Fla. Candidate
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, hurled homemade explosives at a demonstration outside New York City's mayoral mansion, organized by Florida Senate candidate Jake Lang.
Two Pennsylvania men who hurled homemade explosive devices at a protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion Saturday face federal terrorism charges. Both told authorities they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, according to a federal court complaint.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, are awaiting arraignment Monday on charges of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. Kayumi told arresting officers that "ISIS" was the reason for his conduct. Balat later said he had pledged allegiance to the extremist group, the complaint said. When officers asked Balat whether he was aiming for something like the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, he replied, "No, even bigger," according to the complaint.
The Florida connection is direct: the protest that drew the pair to New York was organized by Jake Lang, a far-right activist and Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendant who was released from prison under President Donald Trump's clemency order and has since announced a campaign for U.S. Senate in Florida. Lang's anti-Islamic demonstration outside Gracie Mansion — home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office — drew a larger crowd of counterprotesters, into which the devices were thrown. Neither Mamdani nor his wife were present at the time.
An automated license plate reader captured the suspects entering New York from New Jersey less than an hour before the attack. Their vehicle, registered to a Balat relative, was recovered Sunday with a hobby fuse, a metal can, and a written list of explosive chemical components inside, the complaint said. Police are separately searching properties in northeastern Pennsylvania's Middletown Township and Newtown, according to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there is no indication the suspects' alleged activities were connected to the ongoing war in Iran. Speaking outside Gracie Mansion on Monday, Mayor Mamdani said the men "traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City."
Both suspects are due in court Monday for arraignment.
This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.