Federal prosecutors unveiled chilling details Tuesday in the indictment of two Pennsylvania teenagers accused of hurling homemade bombs outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence at Gracie Mansion. Emir Balat, 18, of Langhorne, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown, both from Bucks County, face eight federal charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The incident unfolded on March 7, 2026, amid clashing protests near East End Avenue. One demonstration, titled "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer," drew counter-protesters under the banner "Run Nazis Out of New York City." Balat and Kayumi drove from Pennsylvania, parked nearby, and approached the site. Around 12:15 p.m., Balat ignited and threw an improvised explosive device containing triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, known as the "Mother of Satan" for its volatility, toward the crowd. He then took a second device from Kayumi, lit it, and dropped it near NYPD officers before attempting to flee. Officers tackled and arrested Balat immediately while apprehending Kayumi nearby. No one was injured, thanks to the NYPD's swift action.

The indictment reveals extensive evidence of their ISIS-inspired intentions. A notebook found with Balat detailed instructions for acetone peroxide synthesis, listing components such as hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid, with warnings about its sensitivity. It also outlined an alternate vehicle-ramming plan targeting festivals and parades using napalm. Dashcam footage from their drive captured discussions of mass violence: Kayumi said, "All I know is I want to start terror bro," while Balat estimated one device could "kill about 8 to 16 people" or up to 60 in a dense crowd. A storage unit rented by Balat in Langhorne contained TATP residue, chemicals, and a note proclaiming, "All praise is due to Allah!!! Die in your rage, ya kuffar!" Forensic tests confirmed TATP in both devices.

After arrest, Balat pledged allegiance to ISIS, telling officers, "This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk bad about... our prophet. We take action!" He aimed to surpass the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three, declaring, "No, even bigger. It was only three deaths." Kayumi identified as ISIS to the crowd and admitted to watching radical online content. Prosecutors noted the plot targeted civilians, government sites, and possibly the mayor, tracked via social media.

Balat, a Neshaminy High School senior attending virtually since September, bought safety fuses for the devices at a fireworks store days earlier. Kayumi, a 2024 Council Rock graduate, was reported missing by his mother that day. Searches of their homes and the storage unit yielded further evidence, with FBI technicians detonating residue on site.

Mayor Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor elected in November 2025, condemned the original protest as a "vile protest rooted in white supremacy" during a March 9 press conference, despite the suspects' explicit ISIS ties. The 34-year-old democratic socialist, born in Uganda and raised in Queens, took office on January 1, 2026.

U.S. Attorney Michael Barnicle and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the threat: "As alleged, Balat and Kayumi traveled to New York City with IEDs to kill as many people as possible in an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack." Maximum sentences include life for the weapons charge. Both pleaded not guilty and remain detained.