PULSE POINTS
WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a formal terrorism investigation after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were thrown at people protesting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at his official residence.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: Two men from Pennsylvania, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested for throwing IEDs, while four others faced charges including pepper spray use and disorderly conduct. Mayor Mamdani and his wife were present inside their residence.
WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on Saturday outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence in New York City.
KEY QUOTE: “Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.” – Mayor Zohran Mamdani
IMPACT: The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has launched an investigation, with search warrants expected in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Authorities are also probing potential extremist influences and overseas travel of the suspects.
IN FULL
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a formal terrorism investigation after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were ignited outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s residence and thrown at right-wing demonstrators during a protest on Saturday. Two men from Pennsylvania, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested for their alleged involvement in throwing the explosive devices. Four others were also arrested on charges including pepper spray use and disorderly conduct.
The attack occurred during a counter-protest to an anti-Islam demonstration organized by individuals associated with Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 protester. According to law enforcement sources, the IEDs were constructed with volatile materials, including triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and were designed to cause harm. The devices were reportedly made using sports drink bottles, glass jars, nuts, bolts, and M80-type fireworks.
Videos from the scene show Balat allegedly throwing one of the devices while shouting “Allahu Akbar” before retrieving a second device from Kayumi. The first device extinguished itself after hitting a barrier, while the second was dropped before it could cause harm. Both suspects are U.S. citizens with documented overseas travel to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. Authorities are investigating potential extremist influences and their travel history.
A third suspicious device was discovered Sunday in a vehicle near Gracie Mansion, prompting evacuations. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) Bomb Squad safely removed the device for further testing. Mayor Mamdani and his wife were inside their residence at the time of the incident. In a statement, Mamdani condemned the violence: “The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.”
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken over the investigation, with search warrants executed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Investigators also state that the suspects were inspired by ISIS messaging and other extremist ideologies.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
The post FBI Investigating ISIS-Style IED Attack on Anti-Mamdani Protest. appeared first on The National Pulse.
