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By Hollie Silverman and Andrew Stanton
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for the two men arrested in connection with a terrorist attack in New York City to "be held fully accountable" in a post on X on Monday, following backlash from MAGA regarding his previous statements on the case.
An improvised explosive device was thrown during clashes between anti-Islam demonstrators and counter-protesters outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mamdani and his wife, on Saturday.
Two Pennsylvanians, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested in connection with the incident, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters at a media conference on Saturday.
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Monday, a criminal complaint said the men admitted to being inspired by the Islamic State extremist group.
"Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi have been charged with committing a heinous act of terrorism and proclaiming their allegiance to ISIS," Mamdani said in the post Monday afternoon, adding, "They should be held fully accountable for their actions."
"We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city," he continued.
DOJ Accuses Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi of 'Acting in Support of ISIS'
The Department of Justice (DOJ) accused the two men of acting in support of ISIS in a press release on Monday afternoon. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the act as an "alleged ISIS-inspired act of terrorism that could have killed American citizens."
On Saturday, there were two protests held outside of Gracie Mansion: “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” and a counter-protest called “Run Nazis Out of New York City." Balat allegedly threw an explosive device toward the protesters just after noon, the DOJ said.
Immediately after, he allegedly ran to another location and received another device from Kayumi and ignited it near where several police officers were standing, the DOJ said. He then jumped over a barricade and was arrested by police officers.
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The DOJ accused him of saying to NYPD officers, "This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet...We take action! We take action!” and “if I didn’t do it someone else will come and do it.”
After arriving at the precinct, Balat allegedly asked for a piece of paper and wrote, "All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar."
They are facing charges including attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
Mamdani Faced MAGA Backlash Over Earlier Remarks
Mamdani earlier faced criticism from conservatives after calling out a "white supremacist" following a protest outside his residence on Saturday.
Mamdani wrote on X about 1 p.m. ET on Sunday that "white supremacist Jake Lang" had organized the protest and said it was "rooted in bigotry and racism." Mamdani then called out "the attempt to use an explosive device" as "criminal" and "reprehensible," but did not reference police reports that the devices were linked to counter protesters, nor did he name the individuals arrested in connection with the matter.
Political commentator Matt Walsh was among those who criticized the post.
"Hi Zohran. What are the names of the people who threw the bomb? Why did you leave that out? And will you call for the culprits to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law? You left that out too. Weird. I wonder why," he wrote in response.
During a speech earlier Monday, Mamdani said that New York City "will never tolerate violence, whether from protests or counter-protests."
"Many of the counter-protesters met this display of bigotry peacefully, with a vision of a city that is welcoming to all. But a few did not. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City. They are suspected of coming here to commit an act of terrorism," he said.
Where Is Gracie Mansion?
Gracie Mansion is the primary residence of the New York City mayor. It is located at Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood.
Why Were There Protests at Gracie Mansion?
An anti-Islam protest was first organized by Jake Lang, a conservative influencer who was pardoned for charges tied to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. The protest drew a large counterdemonstration, and the scene had grown chaotic before the devices were thrown.
Who Is Emir Balat?
Balat, 18, is a Pennsylvania resident identified in the complaint as one of the two suspects. The Associated Press reported that, according to the complaint, Balat said he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and allegedly threw the first device into the crowd before attempting to deploy a second device during the confrontation outside Gracie Mansion.
Who Is Ibrahim Kayumi?
Kayumi, 19, is a Pennsylvania resident identified in the complaint as the second suspect. According to the complaint, Kayumi said “ISIS” motivated his conduct during his arrest and provided a second device to Balat before both were apprehended.
What People Are Saying
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement: "These men allegedly sought to inflict mass casualties in service to ISIS with the hope of exceeding the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombing. We are tremendously grateful to the brave law enforcement officers who ran into harm’s way to apprehend these individuals and disarm the explosives before anyone was harmed. Thanks to the quick investigative work by federal law enforcement, this Department of Justice will prosecute these men who pledged allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization to the fullest extent."
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch wrote on X: "The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and has determined that it is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death. Further analysis will be conducted, including on a second device."
What Happens Next
The incident remains under investigation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said on X on Monday the state "remains in a heightened threat environment."
Update 3/9/26, 4:57 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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