Two Teens Charged After Attempted ISIS‑inspired Bomb Attack Outside New York City Mayor’s Residence

Two teens charged after attempted ISIS‑inspired bomb attack outside New York City mayor’s residence Federal prosecutors have charged two teenage men with terrorism‑related offences after they allegedly attempted an Islamic State‑inspired bomb attack during a protest near the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in Manhattan. Investigators say the attack was meant to rival the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing in scale, but both devices failed to detonate. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 both from Pennsylvania were arrested over the weekend and are now facing multiple federal counts, including attempted support of a designated foreign terrorist organisation and use of a weapon of mass destruction. The incident unfolded on Saturday outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York’s mayor, during a demonstration organised by right‑wing activist Jake Lang. According to federal court filings, Balat threw at least one homemade improvised explosive device (IED) toward a crowd gathered for the protest, though it failed to detonate and caused no injuries. Another device was also dropped on the scene and later cleared by bomb technicians. A third suspicious device was discovered inside a vehicle linked to the suspects, prompting authorities to briefly evacuate nearby residents while it was safely removed and tested by law enforcement.

Prosecutors told the court that the pair were inspired by Islamic State (ISIS) propaganda, and Balat allegedly told investigators he wanted to carry out an attack “even bigger” than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, an act that killed three people and injured hundreds. Post‑arrest statements reportedly found online and in interviews show both men spoke of extremist beliefs and cited their allegiances to ISIS, according to federal authorities. On Monday, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York formally charged Balat and Kayumi with five counts each, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation and using a weapon of mass destruction. Both suspects have been held without bail as the investigation continues. The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation, and has been conducting searches of properties linked to the suspects and analysing the devices recovered at the scene. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office condemned the violence, stressing that while the anti‑Islam demonstration itself was controversial, violence and terrorism would not be tolerated in New York City. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch praised law enforcement’s swift actions for preventing a potential catastrophe. amdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, has also defended the right to peaceful protest while denouncing hate‑fueled demonstrations and emphasising the importance of public safety. The attempted attack occurred amid heightened national concerns over political violence and radicalisation in the United States, with law enforcement agencies on alert for extremist‑inspired threats. Officials emphasised that there is no confirmed link so far to foreign conflicts, including the ongoing war in the Middle East, although the ISIS ideology continues to be a motivating factor in domestic terrorism cases.