The incident occurred on Saturday morning, March 7, 2026, at Gracie Mansion (the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani), Upper East Side, Manhattan. It was an anti-Islam protest (“Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City”) accompanied by a counter-protest group.

Key details:

Two teenagers from Bucks County, Pennsylvania (an affluent suburb):

Emir Balat, 18 years old (Langhorne).

Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 years old (Newtown).

Both drove from Pennsylvania to Manhattan, parked a few blocks from the scene, and blended into the protesting crowd.

They carried two improvised explosive devices (IEDs): two glᴀss vials containing TATP (an easily manufactured explosive, often used by ISIS), screws, bolts, and metal fragments.

Emir Balat ignited and threw the two bombs directly at the protesting crowd and police. Fortunately, the device did not explode completely or only caught fire locally → no one was injured.

They were arrested on the spot. During questioning, both admitted to being inspired by ISIS, chanting slogans in support of the Islamic State, declaring “pledged allegiance to ISIS,” and stating that this was an act of “jihad.”

Further investigation:

They had considered other targets beforehand (such as shopping malls – noted in a notebook found in a warehouse in Pennsylvania).

The FBI and NYPD raided a warehouse in Bucks County, recovering further evidence.

This was not a random act but a domestic terrorist plot inspired by ISIS (ISIS-inspired terrorism).

Charges & Trial (updated March 19-20, 2026):

Charged with felony federal charges:

Attempted material support to a foreign terrorist organization (ISIS).

Use of weapon of mᴀss destruction.

Transportation of explosive materials.

Unlawful possession of destructive devices.

Appearing in Southern District of New York court on March 10, 2026, held without bail.

Currently detained and under further investigation into motives and connections (no prior criminal record).

Reaction:

Police and prosecutors described this as “chilling” because the two teenagers come from affluent families and showed no prior public signs of extremism.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYPD warned of a domestic terrorist threat.

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