On March 7, 2026, two men were arrested after throwing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at protests outside the mayoral Gracie Mansion. During a fight between Anti-Islam protesters, “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” and Counter protesters, “Run Nazis Out of New York City,” one of the suspects Emir Balat, 18, allegedly threw an IED at a police barrier which then self extinguished before being able to cause harm to nearby officers. After the failed initial attack, Balat lit a second device, dropped it, and then fled the scene. The other suspect, Ibrahim Kayumi, 18, accompanied Balat in these attacks. The NYPD Bomb Squad analysis confirmed that the devices were real and found traces of Triacetone Triperoxide, a highly powerful explosive along with nails, bolts, and screws intended to act as shrapnel in an effort to cause maximum casualties.
As of March 9th, the U.S Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs published an official statement regarding the incident. In the statement, the two suspects Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi are being brought on federal charges like terrorism and suspected collaboration with ISIS following their comments at the Police Precinct.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS for short, is a Salafi-jihadist extremist organization that broke apart from Al-Qaeda and controlled significant territory in the Middle East during the 2010s. ISIS proclaims itself to be a worldwide caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims. As a result of its frequent-violent nature, it is designated as a terrorist organization in the United Nations. ISIS radicalizes Americans and citizens of western countries through social media propaganda campaigns and targeting specific audiences like young men and women. In these campaigns, ISIS instills the idea of being part of something bigger, a part of a brotherhood or sisterhood, and introduces radical ideas/beliefs to these audiences in order to recruit them into joining their cause. It is a possibility, considering these suspects’ young age that they could have been recruited or influenced through these very channels of radicalization.
Further details have not yet been disclosed however the FBI Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pamela Bondi warns Americans about the dangers of ISIS and praises the quick action of first responders at the scene. Since the US involvement in Iran, New York City has been under a state of alert with various federal departments on the lookout for potential dangers to the city. This event has proved the worries of city/government officials. In this tense period of New York and US history, we should all be careful and stay safe.