CNN Stands Down, Deletes Shocking Post ‘Romanticizing’ Muslim NYC Bombers

CNN quietly scrubbed a social media post Tuesday after critics blasted the network for appearing to downplay a suspected ISIS-linked bombing attempt outside New York City’s mayoral residence.

The network had described the two suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, as teenagers whose lives suddenly changed during what could have been a pleasant day in the city. Authorities say the pair instead hurled improvised explosive devices outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday the incident is being investigated as “an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.”

“Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather,” CNN wrote in the now-deleted post. “But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home.”

The network later removed the post and acknowledged it violated its editorial standards.

“A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It has therefore been deleted,” CNN wrote.

The attempted attack unfolded Saturday as nearly 100 counter-protesters gathered outside Gracie Mansion to oppose a small anti-Islam demonstration organized by Christian activist Jake Lang.

During the confrontation, Balat allegedly hurled a homemade explosive device toward Lang’s group. Authorities said the device could have caused “serious injury or death.”

Tisch told reporters Monday that the device contained triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, an unstable explosive that has been used in multiple ISIS-linked terrorist attacks.

Video from the scene shows a man appearing to shout “Allahu Akbar” as the device was thrown.

Balat and Kayumi now face five federal charges, including terrorism-related offenses.

CNN and several other legacy outlets, including The New York Times and NPR, described the demonstration as an “anti-Islam” protest. But the suspects themselves were part of the Islamic counter-protest crowd that carried out the attack.

Mamdani also pointed the finger at white supremacy and Islamophobia in a statement on Monday responding to the incident.

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