FBI finds ‘explosive residue’ in storage unit related to ‘ISIS-inspired terrorism’ outside NYC mayor’s home
FBI finds ‘explosive residue’ in Pennsylvania storage unit tied to ‘ISIS-inspired terrorism’ near NYC mayor’s home
On Tuesday, the FBI reported discovering ‘explosive residue’ in a storage unit in Pennsylvania, which is thought to be linked to an ISIS-inspired attack that took place near the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the weekend. The agency shared this information on X, stating that authorities had conducted a controlled detonation of the materials found. The incident occurred on Saturday, when improvised explosive devices were thrown outside Gracie Mansion during protests.
Two teenagers from Pennsylvania, Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18, are now facing federal charges related to the event. While none of the explosives were detonated, and no one was injured, a senior law enforcement official confirmed that several components and chemicals were removed from the storage facility. The official added that local police had detonated some of the materials as a precautionary measure late Monday.
“This is a publicly declared terror trial, this is the city of New York, he’s 18, and he’s exposed to the general population of what is called a hellhole, and we want to keep him protected,” Mehdi Essmidi, Balat’s attorney, remarked on Monday.
NBC News has acquired surveillance footage that allegedly shows Balat purchasing a fireworks fuse from a store in Pennsylvania on March 2, five days before the incident. The video, shared with NBC by Phantom Fireworks, captures Balat entering its Penndel location around 12:40 p.m. and registering his ID with an employee, a requirement for all customers. He is seen buying a single 20-foot roll of green safety fuse with cash.
Phantom Fireworks’ Executive Vice President, Alan Zoldan, revealed that after the attack, the company reviewed its records and identified Balat as a match. This led to the retrieval of the video of his 10-minute visit to the store. The FBI has not provided comments on the matter.
The criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York claims the suspects made statements referencing the Islamic State before and after their arrest. Body camera footage from the officers who detained Kayumi shows him responding with “ISIS” when asked about the attack. Prosecutors allege the pair aimed to cause greater damage than the Boston Marathon bombing, which resulted in three deaths and over 260 injuries in 2013.
A person who answered a phone number linked to Balat’s father, Selahattin Balat, indicated the family would not comment on the case. Kayumi and Balat are both from Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania, with Balat residing in Langhorne and Kayumi in Newtown, according to officials. Their connection remains unclear, though a source familiar with the case told NBC News they traveled to New York City in a car borrowed from an associate, who was unaware of their intentions.
Separately, questions have arisen about a series of unexplained explosions in Pennsylvania from January. These occurred in a town adjacent to where one of the suspects lived, as noted by NBC Philadelphia. During a Monday news conference, Mamdani described the attack as a “vile protest rooted in white supremacy,” criticizing its location outside his official residence. The mayor and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were at a Brooklyn museum during the event.