Mamdani’s home protest: What we know about the men arrested for throwing bombs near Gracie Mansion

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story included a summary that did not reflect the severity of the incident, violating the editorial standards we require for all of our reporting. Therefore it has been modified. Investigators are delving into the background of two terrorism suspects accused of throwing improvised bombs at a protest outside the New York City mayor's home in what authorities describe as an ISIS-inspired attack over the weekend. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, who authorities say are U.S. citizens from Pennsylvania, are accused of attempting to use improvised explosive devices at an anti-Islam rally and counter-protest near Mayor Zohran Mamdani's home on Saturday. Neither device exploded. When speaking with investigators, both suspects cited ISIS, a terrorist group that has resurfaced in recent years, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in federal court. The two are accused of providing material support to a terrorist organization; use of a weapon of mass destruction; transportation of explosive materials; illegal possession of destructive devices; and interstate transportation and receipt of explosives. "This was a planned attack motivated by extremist ideology and inspired by a violent foreign terrorist organization," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday. The incident occurred during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when anti-Islam protesters and counterprotesters clashed near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City. Mamdani is the city's first Muslim mayor. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the attack “absolutely despicable” in remarks Tuesday. Leavitt cited an FBI investigation into the attack and charges brought against the two suspects by the Department of Justice and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, saying, "I know they will not rest until justice is sought in this case." As authorities investigate the suspects' possible ties to ISIS, here's what we know about the investigation: How authorities say the attack unfolded An anti-Islam protest organized by right-wing influencer Jake Lang attracted about 20 people on Saturday. It was soon overshadowed by a counterprotest called “Kick the Nazis Out of New York,” which peaked at about 125 participants, Tisch said. The groups remained in designated areas, but tensions rose when a protester from Lang's group pepper-sprayed counterprotesters around 12:15 p.m. m., the police commissioner said. Twenty minutes later, Balat “threw a lit device toward the protest area,” which landed in a crosswalk, Tisch said. Video showed protesters and police quickly disperse to avoid the device. "Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it traveled through the air before hitting a barrier and extinguishing a few meters from police officers," the commissioner said. Balat then retrieved a second device from Kayumi before turning it on and starting to work, according to the complaint. He dropped the second device on the street where several police officers were and ran, according to the complaint. The device appeared to emit smoke but also did not explode, according to Tisch. Police officers soon detained and arrested Balat, and Kayumi was also arrested at the scene, according to the complaint. The anti-Islam protester accused of using pepper spray was also arrested, and three others were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and obstruction of traffic, Tisch said. Mamdani said he and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were not at home during the time of the protest. The suspects are a high school senior and another teenager from Pennsylvania. Balat and Kayumi are both from Pennsylvania, authorities said. Balat is a 12th grade student in the Neshaminy School District, a district