BREAKING: Would-Be NYC Bombers’ Motive Confirmed

Federal prosecutors on Monday charged two men with trying to aid the Islamic State after a homemade explosive was hurled near Gracie Mansion during a protest over the weekend.

Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested Saturday night after authorities say they attempted to deploy two explosive devices, including one that tested positive for TATP, a highly volatile explosive linked to numerous terrorist attacks over the past decade, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court.

After their arrests, both suspects made statements referencing ISIS, the complaint states. Balat allegedly told investigators they “wanted to carry out an attack bigger than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which Balat noted, caused only ‘three deaths,’” according to the filing. New York officials have also referred to Kayumi as Mr. Nikk.

Balat also wrote on a piece of paper that he pledged allegiance “to the Islamic State,” the complaint says. Prosecutors added that Kayumi told police he had watched ISIS propaganda on his phone and “was partly inspired to carry out his actions that day by ISIS.”

🚨🤬This is 18-year-old Amir Balat, who is seen yelling “Allahu Akbar” while throwing an explosive device packed with nuts, bolts, and screws—designed to maim or injure Jake Lang and other Crusaders—during a protest in front of Gracie Mansion, Zohran Mamdani’s home.🤬🚨

These… pic.twitter.com/orTMaXaEdo

— 🇺🇸 𝓐𝓟𝓡𝓘𝓛 𝓢𝓟𝓐𝓡𝓚𝓢 🇺🇸 (@AprilSpark1890) March 8, 2026

Balat is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday afternoon.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch and Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, are scheduled to address the charges at a news conference later Monday.

Earlier in the day, Tisch said investigators determined that one of the improvised explosive devices placed near the demonstration contained TATP, describing it as “a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in I.E.D. attacks around the world.”

One of the devices was thrown outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as the protest unfolded.

Mamdani said the devices “were meant to injure, maim or worse.” The explosives did not detonate, and no injuries were reported.

Authorities said it marks the first time in nine years that an I.E.D. has been used in an attack in New York City.

The rally on the Upper East Side was organized by social media personality Jake Lang, who has previously led protests in Minneapolis. Saturday’s event was billed as a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” protest. Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, was not at Gracie Mansion during the demonstration.

Lang arrived with a goat and roughly 20 supporters wearing American flag hats and “freedom” sweatshirts. As the protest continued, tensions rose with about 100 counterprotesters gathered nearby.

RELATED: NYC Bombers ‘Trained’ By ISIS, Had ‘Mother Of Satan’ IEDs

Toward the end of the event, a man appeared to ignite a small black object and toss it onto the sidewalk. Police officers immediately moved in and arrested him and another man as the device began emitting smoke.

A third device was discovered Sunday inside a vehicle parked on East End Avenue between East 81st and 82nd Streets, several blocks south of Gracie Mansion. The NYPD bomb squad later determined that device did not contain explosive material, Tisch said.

Mamdani and Tisch also praised two officers, Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro, who ran toward Balat as the bomb was thrown.

Mamdani condemned the protest as “vile” and “rooted in white supremacy,” but added that he “will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen.”

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