Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Mar 10: Two young men have been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organisation and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction after allegedly throwing homemade bombs during protests near the residence of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to court documents.
The accused, Emir Balat (18) and Ibrahim Kayumi (19), are also facing charges including transportation of explosive materials, unlawful possession of destructive devices and interstate transportation and receipt of explosives. The charges were filed in federal court.
At a press briefing, Jessica Tisch, Commissioner of the New York Police Department, said body-worn camera footage captured Kayumi allegedly telling a bystander “ISIS” when asked why he carried out the act. After waiving his Miranda rights, he reportedly told investigators that he had watched propaganda from the extremist group Islamic State and said his actions were partly inspired by it.
Balat, meanwhile, allegedly made statements inside a police vehicle indicating his support for the extremist group and claimed he had pledged allegiance to it, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities said two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were thrown during a protest near the mayor’s residence on Saturday. One device failed to explode while another was lit and dropped on the street before the suspect fled. Officials said both devices were capable of causing serious injury or death had they detonated.
Bomb technicians from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and NYPD later carried out controlled detonations of the devices, which resulted in a “significant explosion,” officials said. A third suspicious device discovered the following day tested negative for explosive material but is being investigated in connection with the incident.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton described the alleged plot as “ISIS-inspired actions,” noting that one suspect had referenced the Boston Marathon bombing during questioning.
Police said the violence erupted during an anti-Islam protest organised by a right-wing activist, which drew a larger group of counter-protesters. More than 100 people had gathered at the scene when the devices were thrown.
Investigators said the suspects had no prior criminal records and had entered New York City by crossing the George Washington Bridge shortly before the incident.
Both accused were remanded to federal custody without bail after their initial court appearance and are scheduled to appear in court again on April 8.
Mayor Mamdani said he and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were not present at the residence at the time of the incident, adding that anyone attempting to bring violence to the city would be held accountable under the law.