FBI investigates men charged with lighting bombs at NYC protest

FBI finds explosive residue in storage unit after two men charged with setting off bombs in New York FBI finds explosive residue in storage unit after two men charged with setting off bombs in New York NEW YORK (AP) — The FBI said Tuesday it found explosive residue in a Pennsylvania storage unit as part of an investigation into two men accused of bringing pipe bombs to a protest outside the New York City mayor's home. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, told police after their arrests that they were inspired by the Islamic State group, according to law enforcement officials and a criminal complaint. The men live in suburban Philadelphia and drove together to New York City on Saturday to carry out the attack near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, authorities said. In response to police questioning, Balat said he hoped to accomplish something “even bigger” than the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people, according to the complaint. Overnight Monday, FBI bomb technicians conducted controlled detonations of explosive residue found at a public storage facility in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, near where Balat's family lives, the agency said. The explosion caused "several loud bangs," the Middletown Township Police Department said Tuesday, adding that there was no threat to residents. The FBI said it has conducted multiple searches in connection with the investigation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday called the attack “absolutely despicable” and said government investigators and prosecutors will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice. Much is still unknown about the motives, planning, and relationship between Balat and Kayumi. Court documents show that Emir Balat's father, Selahattin Balat, is a native of Turkey who was granted asylum in the United States in 1998 and later became a U.S. citizen. In a 2009 bankruptcy filing, he listed his occupation as a painter and said he had three children. Emir Balat is a senior at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne. A school spokesperson said he enrolled in a virtual program in September and had not attended in-person classes since then. His lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said his client had “complicated things” happening in his personal life, without giving further details. Essmidi said he did not believe the two young men had known each other for a long time. Kayumi is from Newtown, about 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) north of Langhorne. He is a 2024 graduate of Council Rock High School North, according to a school spokesperson. His attorney did not speak to reporters after a court hearing Monday and declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press. Online records show Kayumi's parents owned and worked at several Popeyes fast food locations, including in Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Atlantic City. His mother filed a missing person report with police on Saturday, the day of the protest, saying her son had not been seen since that morning, according to the complaint. Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Balat and Kayumi joined a crowd of counterprotesters at a small anti-Muslim rally organized by far-right activist Jake Lang. Lang, a Christian nationalist, is critical of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office. Journalists photographed Balat throwing a device, smoking with a lit fuse, which was later found to contain the TATP explosive. The object, which also contained nuts and bolts, was extinguished without causing harm to anyone. Balat then dropped a second object near some police officers and attempted to flee, but was tackled and arrested, according to a court complaint. Balat and Kayumi were being held without bail after their court appearance on charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.