Two young men accused of bringing “weapons of mass destruction” explosives to an anti-Islamic protest outside the New York City mayor’s residence were inspired by ISIS and sought to outdo the carnage wrought by the Boston Marathon bombers, federal prosecutors said Monday.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, have been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to ISIS, among other related crimes, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan.
Balat, a senior in high school in Pennsylvania, reportedly told investigators he wanted an attack to be “even bigger” than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, when two pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds of others, according to the complaint.
Kayumi allegedly shouted out that he was inspired by ISIS while he was being arrested, prosecutors say.
There does not appear to be any connection between the men’s alleged bomb-throwing and the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, according to police.
During their first appearance in federal court Monday, attorneys for Balat and Kayumi requested protective custody for their clients at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
They will remain in custody pending an application for bail.
Two improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, were ignited outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday during a volatile protest led by far-right, anti-Islam activist Jake Lang, whose group was met with an even larger group of counter-protesters.
Lang organized the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” demonstration and was joined by as many as 20 others. A counter protest, “Run the Nazis out of New York City's Stand Against Hate Group,” attracted at least five times as many activists.
Neither New York City Zohran Mamdani nor first lady Rama Duwaji were inside the property at the time of the alleged attack.
Video from the scene shows a man shouting “Allahu Akbar” before throwing what Tish described as a “jar wrapped in tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse.”
One of the devices contained triacetone triperoxide, “a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in IED attacks around the world,” according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The device appeared to have extinguished itself as it rolled towards officers. Another device that was dropped at the scene did not appear to ignite, Tisch said.
As officers placed Kayumi inside an NYPD car on Saturday, a person from the crowd shouted out asking “why he had done this,” according to the criminal complaint.
In his response, allegedly captured on NYPD body-worn camera footage, Kayumi responded “ISIS,” the complaint states.
Both teens also referred to ISIS in recorded post-arrest statements they made after receiving and waiving their Miranda rights, according to the complaint.
“This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet … We take action! We take action!” Balant allegedly said on his way to a police precinct after his arrest, according to the complaint, which says his comments were recorded on camera. “
“If I didn’t do it someone else will come and do it,” he said, the complaint states.
Balat also allegedly wrote on a piece of paper that he “pledge[d] allegience [sic] to the Islamic State” and wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing.
Asked by law enforcement officers whether he was familiar with the Boston Marathon bombing, and if that was what he set out to accomplish, he allegedly replied: responded: "No, even bigger. It was only three deaths.”
Kayumi also said he watched ISIS footage on his phone and was “partly inspired” by ISIS, according to the complaint.
Earlier this year, Lang organized a similar rally in Minneapolis in support of Trump’s surge of federal immigration officers, drawing a massive crowd of counterprotesters that quickly chased him away.
Police at the scene “faced a chaotic situation that very quickly could have become far more dangerous,” Mamdani said Monday.
“While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen,” added Mamdani, who is the city’s first Muslim mayor. “I will defend that right every day I am mayor, even when those protesting say things that I abhor.”
In a statement following their indictment, Mamdani said the teens “should be held fully accountable for their actions.”
“We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city.”
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