The Department of Justice recently announced charges against ISIS supporters, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, after they allegedly attempted to detonate two explosive devices within close proximity to Gracie Mansion, home to Mayor Mamdani.
The incident arose on March 7, during a counter-protest of right-winger, Jake Lang’s anti-Islam protest called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer.” The situation quickly got out of hand, with the counter-protesters, referring to themselves as “Run Nazis Out of New York City,” being the ones to throw the bombs at Lang and his constituents.
According to the FBI, the young Pennsylvanian men allegedly sought to inflict mass casualties in service to ISIS by attempting to detonate explosive devices in a crowd. This alleged act of terrorism included metal shrapnel being packed into the explosives.
The first bomb was thrown towards Lang and his fellow protestors at 12:15 pm by Balat, but it did not detonate. Immediately after throwing the first device, Balat ran down the block and received the second explosive device from Kayumi. Once he ignited the second device, Balat dropped the explosive near several NYPD officers, which also did not ignite, and ran away, with the two being tackled and arrested by the police shortly after.
Following their arrest, Balat stated to the NYPD officers, “This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet . . . We take action! We take action!” Additionally, he stated, “If I didn’t do it, someone else will come and do it.”
While at the NYPD precinct, Balat wrote on a piece of paper the following:
“All praise is due to Allah, lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar!”
Kuffar is an Arabic term referring to non-believers, while “Die in your rage” is a slogan used by ISIS.
The investigation remains ongoing and is being handled by the National Security and International Narcotics Unit for the Southern District of New York. Currently, the two have been charged with lighting a pair of improvised explosive devices, providing material support to ISIS, and face the potential of receiving terrorism charges.
Some have commented on recent reports from CNN have spun the story to give the illusion that the anti-Islam protesters were the ones throwing the bombs. The outlet stated in a recent post:
“Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day, enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather. But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim outside protest at Mayor Mamdani’s home.”
After receiving significant online backlash for the deceptive phrasing of the attack, CNN had to take down its posts.
Mamdani’s office stated that the situation was a “crusade against Islamification,” despite the attackers being ISIS sympathizers who made death threats to “kill Jake Lang” before the first bomb was thrown. Ultimately, Jake Lang’s argument that people who come from third-world countries with radical Islamic ideals are not compatible with Western culture was proven in his favor by the attack.