2 men accused of bringing explosives to weekend protest in New York inspired by ISIS: court complaint
Two men who brought explosives to a protest outside a New York City mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, a court complaint said.
Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were held without bail after appearing in court on Monday on charges including attempting to support a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Their lawyers did not oppose bail but may do so later.
The homemade devices, which did not explode, were thrown on Saturday during a mass protest against an anti-Islam protest led by Jake Lang, a far-right activist and critic of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office.
The men did not say anything during the trial, but Kayumi smiled and looked at Balat when the judge read the part of the complaint that said they supported the Islamic State group.
Balat stared forward at the defense table.
According to the complaint, Kayumi said when he was arrested on Saturday that ISIS was the reason for his behavior. Balat, 18, later told authorities he was committed to an extremist group, while Kayumi, 19, claimed to be a member of the Islamic State group, the complaint said.
Police asked Balat if he intended to carry out something similar to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, when two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds.
“No, more,” Balat replied, according to the complaint.
Both suspects are Pennsylvania residents
US Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on social media that authorities “will not allow the toxic, anti-American ideology of ISIS to threaten this nation.”
In court, Kayumi’s lawyer, Michael Arthus, pointed out more about the case and asked the prosecutors to refrain from saying anything that could harm potential prosecutors.
Balat’s lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said outside the court that his client has three classes left to complete high school.
An automated license plate reader captured the suspects — both Pennsylvania residents — entering New York City from New Jersey less than an hour before the midday attack, according to the complaint. Kayumi’s mother filed a missing person’s report saying she last saw him around 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
The suspect’s car – registered to one of Balat’s relatives – was found on Sunday at the place where they were arrested. A search of the vehicle turned up a fuse and a metal can, along with a written list of chemical ingredients and materials that could be used to make explosives, the complaint said.
No ties have been identified to the Iran war
Speaking outside the mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion, on Monday morning, Mamdani said Balat and Kayumi “came from Pennsylvania and tried to bring violence to New York City.” Mamdani and his wife were not present during the protest.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there are no indications that the men’s allegations are related to the ongoing war in Iran. The Islamic State is a Sunni extremist group; Iran’s population is almost entirely Shia, the other main religious community within Islam.
While Mamdani and Tisch were speaking to reporters on Monday, Lang walked outside the gates of Gracie Mansion.
Meanwhile, police have searched a home in East Middletown Township in Pennsylvania, and a separate investigation is underway in an area near Newtown, local police said.
A chaotic scene
Lang’s slow-moving protest on Saturday drew a large number of protesters. During the face-off, Balat threw a pitcher-sized device containing a TATP explosive into the crowd, the complaint said. It also contained a fuse, as well as an outer layer of taped nuts and bolts, the complaint said.
The machine turned itself off from the police. According to the complaint, Balat then ran down the block and collected a second identical tool from Kayumi, dropped it near the officers and attempted to flee, the complaint said. The police confronted Balat and quickly arrested him and Kayumi.
The situation was chaotic even before the machines were thrown. Police say one person involved in the anti-Islam protest, Ian McGinnis, 21, was arrested after pepper spraying protesters. McGinnis, of Philadelphia, was released without bond after pleading guilty Sunday to aggravated assault and battery in a New York court, records show. A message seeking comment was left Monday with his attorney.
Three others were taken into custody but released without charge.
After the January 6 uprising at the US Capitol, Lang was charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, disorderly conduct and other crimes. He was later released from prison as part of US President Donald Trump’s clemency act. Lang recently announced that he will run for the US Senate in Florida.
Earlier this year, he organized a rally in Minneapolis in support of Trump’s crackdown on immigration, drawing an angry crowd of protesters who promptly dismissed him.
