OAN Staff Sophia Flores
3:37 PM – Monday, March 9, 2026
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged two men in an apparent “ISIS-inspired” attack outside of Gracie Mansion, the residence of the mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani.
Records show that 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, both Muslims from Pennsylvania who support the Islamic State (ISIS), were indicted on Monday on federal charges of attempting to support ISIS and using a weapon of mass destruction (WMD).
Additionally, both men were arraigned in Manhattan federal court on five counts and are currently being held without bail.
Investigators had located a vehicle registered to one of Balat’s relatives parked just a few blocks away. Inside, a police robot safely recovered a third “mason jar-sized” device.
First Two Devices
- Device 1: At approximately 12:15 p.m., Balat ignited and threw the first device toward a crowd gathered near Gracie Mansion. It struck a barrier and extinguished itself without detonating.
- Device 2: Immediately after throwing the first one, Balat ran down the block and received a second device from Kayumi. Balat allegedly attempted to ignite it but dropped it near a group of NYPD officers before fleeing over a barricade, where he was tackled and arrested.
The vehicle containing the third device had also contained critical evidence, including hardware for bomb assembly, a coil of green hobby fuse, and an empty metal container matching the dimensions of the IED thrown at the crowd.
An IED is a simple bomb made and used by unofficial or unauthorized forces.
Furthermore, authorities discovered a notebook with handwritten instructions, featuring a page titled “TATP explosive” and another detailing the specific chemical ingredients required for its production.
Had any of those devices detonated, they could have caused “serious injury or death,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated during a Monday press conference.
She clarified that these were “not hoax devices nor smoke bombs,” but lethal IEDs.
However, while the third device found in the nearby vehicle was previously described as being “consistent in appearance” with the others, Tisch later noted that initial testing on that specific device did not show the presence of explosive material — unlike the other devices — confirmed to contain TATP.
Police Interview
While being questioned by investigators, Balat stated that he was familiar with the deadly 2013 Boston Marathan bombing, where two pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the finish line — killing three people and wounding hundreds more — and was asked if that’s what he hoped to accomplish with his accomplice.
“No, even bigger. It was only three deaths,” he replied, according to the 10-page complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court.
Balat and Kayumi then expressed their allegiance to the terrorist group as the motivation behind their failed attack. Balat further revealed his affiliation in a disturbing message. Following their arrests, Balat reportedly signed a written statement pledging allegiance to ISIS, and Kayumi also stated that he was affiliated with the group — admitting to watching ISIS propaganda on his phone.
“All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds,” he wrote after requesting a piece of paper, according to the complaint. “I pledge my allegiance [sic] to the Islamic State. Die in your rage you [sic] kuffar” — the Arabic term for infidels or non-believers, according to the complaint.
As Kayumi was being placed into an NYPD transport vehicle, a bystander yelled out asking why he had done it. According to body-worn camera footage referenced in the complaint, Kayumi responded by shouting, “ISIS.”
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
