2 men are charged with using a weapon of mass destruction after IEDs are tossed near NYC mayor’s home

Two Individuals Charged with WMD Use Following IEDs Thrown Near NYC Mayor’s Residence

Court filings reveal that two men have been indicted for providing assistance to a terrorist group and deploying weapons of mass destruction. The incidents occurred during demonstrations near the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, when homemade bombs were hurled at the scene. The explosive devices, though not detonating, posed a potential threat of severe harm or fatality, according to police.

Details of the Charges and Statements

The suspects, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, are also accused of transporting explosive substances, possessing destructive tools, and moving explosives across state lines. Body-worn cameras captured footage of Kayumi being loaded into an NYPD vehicle post-arrest, where a bystander questioned his actions. Kayumi replied, “ISIS,” as stated by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a news briefing.

“A person in the crowd asked why he’d done this,” and Kayumi responded with “ISIS,”

Following the surrender of his Miranda rights, Kayumi stated he had been influenced by ISIS propaganda on his mobile device. Balat, while in a police car, claimed, “This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the Prophet. We take action … If I didn’t do it, someone else will come and do it,” according to Tisch. Additionally, Balat confessed to pledging loyalty to the extremist group, the court documents note.

Context of the Protests and Investigation

Law enforcement officials highlighted that the first IED was thrown amid clashes between anti-Islam protesters and counterprotesters. The same individual who launched the first bomb lit a second one, dropped it on the street, and fled before it exploded. Tests confirmed the devices were not prank items or smoke bombs, but actual improvised explosive devices.

A third device, discovered on Sunday, is under review for its link to Saturday’s event. However, it tested negative for explosive materials, according to Tisch. NYPD and FBI bomb specialists performed controlled detonations of the two IEDs, resulting in a “major explosion,” said Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner during the briefing.

Background of the Suspects and Their Connection

Officials noted the protest was organized by a right-wing agitator, overshadowed by a crowd exceeding 100 counterprotesters. The men arrived in the city via the George Washington Bridge and were arrested approximately an hour later after the bombs were deployed. Tisch mentioned they had no prior criminal records.

Mehdi Essmidi, Balat’s attorney, described the defendant as a high school student who recently turned 18 and resides with his parents in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Essmidi stated, “It’s still not clear how he even came to be in New York to be involved in this and I’m still trying to figure out,” adding that Balat is a U.S. citizen with no known ties to Kayumi before the incident. The suspects’ families have cooperated with authorities, with no signs of resistance.

Kayumi is represented by a public defender, while Balat’s legal team is under investigation. Both were placed in federal detention after their arrests. The case underscores concerns about ISIS-inspired acts of violence, with prosecutors emphasizing the potential for greater devastation than the Boston Marathon bombing.