New York, March 11, 2026 – In a chilling incident that has heightened tensions in New York City, two young men from Pennsylvania have been charged with terrorism-related offenses after allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Authorities are investigating the attack as an act of “ISIS-inspired terrorism” marking a stark reminder of the persistent threat of extremist ideologies.
The event unfolded on Saturday, March 7, 2026, amid dueling protests near the mayor’s home. A far-right demonstration organized by activist Jake Lang, under the banner “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” drew counterprotesters opposing anti-Muslim rhetoric. Tensions escalated when Emir Balat, 18, from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, from Newtown, Pennsylvania, allegedly hurled two homemade bombs toward the crowd and police.
Man flees after throwing a homemade explosive device toward police during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, March 7, 2026.
The devices, described as jars filled with nuts, bolts, screws, and wrapped in tape with fuses, failed to fully detonate, producing only smoke and causing panic but no injuries.
ccording to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, preliminary tests confirmed the IEDs were not hoax devices or mere smoke bombs but capable of causing serious injury or death if they had exploded properly. cnn.com +1 Body-worn camera footage captured Kayumi shouting “ISIS” as he was arrested, and during questioning, he admitted to watching ISIS propaganda videos, which partly inspired the attack. cnn.com +1 Balat also reportedly pledged allegiance to the group, with one suspect expressing a desire for the incident to be “bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing.”
Federal charges were unsealed on Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, accusing the pair of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (ISIS), using a weapon of mass destruction, transporting explosives, and related crimes. The suspects appeared in court, where sketches depicted them in custody, handcuffed and flanked by officers.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, was inside Gracie Mansion with his family at the time but was unharmed. In a joint press conference with Commissioner Tisch, Mamdani condemned the violence, stating, “This is an attempt to bring hatred and terror from Pennsylvania to our streets.”
The scene showed city officials addressing the media against the backdrop of the historic residence, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Image: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a news conference at Gracie Mansion in New York City on Monday
The NYPD and FBI are leading the investigation, with searches conducted at the suspects’ homes in Pennsylvania on Sunday.
Bomb squad units were deployed to secure the area, cordoning off streets with police tape and vehicles as they examined the devices.
This incident has sparked widespread debate on social media and in the press, with initial reports from outlets like CNN facing criticism for downplaying the terrorism angle. Community leaders have highlighted rising Islamophobia, especially amid protests targeting Mamdani’s administration. As the investigation continues, officials emphasize there is no ongoing threat, but vigilance remains high in a city no stranger to security challenges.
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