FBI finds ‘explosive residue’ in storage unit related to ‘ISIS-inspired terrorism’ outside NYC mayor’s home
FBI Finds Explosive Residue in Pennsylvania Storage Unit Tied to ISIS-Inspired Attack Near NYC Mayor’s Home
Tuesday, the FBI disclosed that it identified “explosive residue” at a storage facility in Pennsylvania, which is suspected of being connected to an ISIS-inspired incident occurring near the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the weekend. Authorities conducted a controlled detonation of the discovered materials, according to the agency’s statement on X. The incident took place on Saturday when improvised explosive devices were hurled outside Gracie Mansion during protests, though none of the devices were activated and no one was harmed.
Suspects and Federal Charges
Two Pennsylvania teenagers, Ibrahim Kayumi (19) and Emir Balat (18), are facing federal allegations related to the event. Law enforcement officials stated that several components and chemicals were removed from the storage facility. A precautionary detonation of some materials occurred late Monday by local police. NBC News acquired surveillance footage purportedly showing Balat purchasing a fireworks fuse from a store in Pennsylvania on March 2, five days prior to the incident. The video captures Balat visiting the Penndel location of Phantom Fireworks around 12:40 p.m., where he registered his ID and bought a 20-foot roll of green safety fuse in cash.
Subpoena and Statements from the Company
Phantom Fireworks’ Executive Vice President, Alan Zoldan, confirmed that federal prosecutors issued a subpoena following the attack. The company reviewed its records and found a match with Balat’s name, leading to the retrieval of the store visit footage. Zoldan shared a copy of the subpoena with NBC News. The criminal complaint against the suspects, filed in the Southern District of New York, notes that they made remarks about the Islamic State terrorist group before and after their arrest. Body camera video of the arrest shows Kayumi responding with “ISIS” when asked about his actions by a bystander.
Plans for Carnage and Legal Proceedings
Federal prosecutors stated the pair aimed to cause greater destruction than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which resulted in three deaths and over 260 injuries. The Balat family declined to comment, as a caller at their father’s phone number indicated. Kayumi and Balat are currently detained, pending a bail application. They are charged with possessing and using a “weapon of mass destruction,” transporting explosives, and attempting to support a “designated foreign terrorist organization.”
Protective Custody Request
Legal representatives for the suspects sought protective custody for their clients during Monday’s court hearing. Mehdi Essmidi, Balat’s attorney, argued that the trial, being public, posed risks in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. “This is a publicly declared terror trial, this is the city of New York, he’s 18, and he’s exposed to the general population of what is called a hellhole,” Essmidi told NBC News. Kayumi’s attorney did not respond immediately to the request for comment.
Connections and Unanswered Questions
Both suspects hail from Bucks County, southeastern Pennsylvania, with Balat residing in Langhorne and Kayumi in Newtown. While the nature of their relationship remains unclear, a source close to the case revealed they traveled from Pennsylvania to New York City using a car borrowed from an associate. The source noted the associate was unaware of their intentions. Separately, concerns have been raised about unexplained explosion sounds in Pennsylvania during January, which occurred near one of the suspects’ residences, as reported by NBC Philadelphia.
Mayor’s Response to the Attack
At a Monday news conference, Mayor Mamdani criticized the incident, describing it as a “vile protest rooted in white supremacy.” He and his wife were visiting a Brooklyn museum when the explosives were deployed outside their official home. The mayor also emphasized the symbolic nature of the attack, stating it targeted his residence rather than a public space. The protest, dubbed “Stop the Islam,” was denounced as an act of extremism against the city’s Muslim community.
“This is a publicly declared terror trial, this is the city of New York, he’s 18, and he’s exposed to the general population of what is called a hellhole,” Mehdi Essmidi told NBC News.
