NYPD, FBI Probe Gracie Mansion TATP IEDs as ISIS‑Inspired Terrorism; Surveillance Video Shows Pennsylvania Fireworks‑Fuse Purchase Before Attack
NYPD and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating an ISIS‑inspired terrorism incident after two improvised explosive devices — described by officials as mason‑jar or sports‑drink‑bottle IEDs packed with nuts, bolts and screws and preliminarily found to contain TATP — were ignited and thrown during dueling protests outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Gracie Mansion on March 7; one device partially ignited and self‑extinguished near officers, the other did not ignite. Authorities arrested 18‑year‑old Emir Balat and 19‑year‑old Ibrahim Kayumi of Pennsylvania, executed search warrants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and at a Langhorne storage facility, say surveillance video shows Balat buying a 20‑foot consumer fireworks safety fuse days earlier, and federal prosecutors have filed terrorism‑related charges alleging ISIS inspiration.
📌 Key Facts
- On March 7, during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion — a small anti‑Islam rally led by far‑right activist Jake Lang and a larger counter‑protest — 18‑year‑old Emir Balat allegedly ignited and threw at least one improvised explosive device into the crowd and dropped a second device while fleeing; no one was injured and nearby buildings were evacuated.
- Law enforcement described the devices as mason‑jar or sports‑drink‑bottle canisters wrapped in tape and packed with nuts, bolts and screws with a hobby/consumer fireworks fuse; one device partially ignited and self‑extinguished, and a third inert device was later found in a vehicle.
- Preliminary Bomb Squad and FBI testing indicated at least one device contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile explosive; analysts warned such an IED could have caused mass casualties if it had detonated in the dense crowd.
- Two Pennsylvania residents — Emir Balat (18) of Langhorne and Ibrahim Kayumi (19) of Newtown — were arrested at the scene and are in federal custody; court documents and police say they watched ISIS material, Balat wrote a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State, and Kayumi allegedly said “ISIS” when asked why he acted.
- The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York are leading a formal terrorism investigation; federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint charging both men with multiple federal counts, including attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and use of a weapon of mass destruction, with a preliminary hearing scheduled and a federal indictment pending.
- Investigators collected surveillance and forensic evidence: video shows Balat purchasing a 20‑foot roll of consumer fireworks safety fuse at a Phantom Fireworks in Penndel, Pa., on March 2 (receipt $6.89); the NYPD Bomb Squad x‑rayed and rendered devices safe and sent them to the FBI lab at Quantico; search warrants were executed at the suspects’ homes in Bucks County, a related New Jersey address, and a Langhorne storage facility, and a Honda Civic near Gracie Mansion was towed.
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident as an "ISIS‑inspired terrorism" investigation and said there was no evidence linking it to the war with Iran; Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the anti‑Muslim rally and the attempt to use explosives, and city and federal authorities increased security while the probe continues.
- Defense counsel has characterized Balat as a confused 18‑year‑old with personal issues and said the two defendants had been strangers; both remain detained without bail as the federal case proceeds.
📊 Relevant Data
Between 2015 and 2019, 63% of American homegrown jihadist terrorists were U.S. citizens, with an average age of 29, and 23% were converts to Islam.
A Behavioral Study of American “Homegrown” Terrorists — National Institute of Justice
The Muslim population in the New York metropolitan area is approximately 1.5 million, representing about 9% of New York City's population and 22.3% of American Muslims.
Islam in New York City — Wikipedia
From 2010 to 2020, the global Muslim population grew by 347 million, faster than any other major religion, largely due to higher fertility rates and younger age structures in Muslim-majority countries.
How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 — Pew Research Center
DHS funding uncertainties, such as shutdowns, can lead to furloughs of non-essential personnel and delays in counterterrorism grants, impacting security at events like the FIFA World Cup.
DHS funding impasse here to stay as administration ratchets up pressure — Politico
Second-generation immigrants are overrepresented in European jihadist terrorism, with factors like integration challenges contributing, though U.S. data shows many homegrown terrorists are U.S.-born with immigrant family backgrounds.
Jihadist Terrorism Figures in Europe: Results and Prospective Analysis — START InSight
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
What Dostoevsky Understood About Political Rage
"A Dostoevsky‑inflected commentary arguing that recent protest violence (such as the dueling demonstrations outside Mayor Mamdani’s residence) reflects deeper moral and psychological currents — humiliation, resentment, and politicized meaning‑making — and that policing alone cannot resolve the causes of modern political rage."
DAVID MARCUS: Madman Mamdani’s predictable, disgraceful performance after Gotham terror
"A sharply critical opinion piece attacking NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his response to the Gracie Mansion ISIS‑inspired IED attack, accusing him and fellow progressives of downplaying Islamist motives and cozying up to anti‑American activists such as Mahmoud Khalil."
📰 Source Timeline (24)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 11, 2026
2:37 AM
Terror suspect bought fireworks fuse before allegedly hurling explosives at NYC protesters
New information:
- Surveillance footage shows 18-year-old suspect Emir Balat purchasing a 20-foot roll of consumer fireworks safety fuse at a Phantom Fireworks store in Penndel, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on March 2.
- Phantom Fireworks’ vice president and general counsel confirms the single-item purchase and price — $6.89 including tax — and provides a detailed description of the transaction.
- The article lays out a specific timeline tying the March 2 fuse purchase to the alleged March 7 ISIS-inspired attack outside Gracie Mansion in which Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi are accused of throwing improvised explosive devices toward protesters and police.
- Additional detail on the protest context: the primary event was titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City: Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” with about 20 participants, and a counterprotest titled “Run the Nazis out of New York City: Stand Against Hate” peaked at roughly 125 people.
- New narrative details on the alleged attack sequence: Balat is accused of throwing an ignited device that landed in a crosswalk near officers, then taking a second device from Kayumi, lighting it, fleeing, and dropping it between East 86th and East 87th Streets before both men were arrested.
2:37 AM
WATCH: NYC terror suspect allegedly seen purchasing fireworks fuse days before attack
New information:
- Phantom Fireworks’ Penndel, Pennsylvania showroom surveillance footage allegedly shows Emir Balat buying a 20‑foot roll of consumer fireworks safety fuse on March 2, 2026.
- Phantom Fireworks Vice President and General Counsel William Weimer confirms the single item purchased was a 20‑foot consumer safety fuse and the total price was $6.89 including tax.
- The article provides a detailed sequence of the March 7 Gracie Mansion incident, describing two devices Balat allegedly ignited and threw or dropped near police and the route he ran on East End Avenue before arrest.
- It restates that Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi now face five specific federal charges, including attempted provision of material support to ISIS and use of a weapon of mass destruction.
12:49 AM
Video appears to show bomb suspect purchasing fuse at fireworks store
New information:
- CBS obtained and reviewed Phantom Fireworks surveillance video showing 18‑year‑old suspect Emir Balat entering the Penndel, Pennsylvania store at 12:46 p.m. on March 2 and purchasing a 20‑foot roll of safety fuse for $6.89 including tax.
- Phantom Fireworks vice president and general counsel William Weimer confirmed to CBS that the FBI contacted the company’s national security director on Monday regarding the purchase and provided contextual comments that the single‑roll fuse sale was "nothing remarkable" in real time.
- The article provides a detailed narrative of Balat’s alleged actions during the March 7 Gracie Mansion incident based on NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s account: the first ignited device hit a barrier and self‑extinguished near officers; Balat then retrieved and lit a second device from co‑defendant Ibrahim Kayumi before dropping it while running.
- Law‑enforcement sources described the IEDs’ construction more specifically as a sports‑drink bottle filled or partially filled with explosive material placed inside glass jars and surrounded by metal fragmentation such as nuts and bolts.
- The story reiterates that prosecutors allege in a complaint that Balat said he was inspired by ISIS and wanted the attack to be "even bigger" than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and confirms that both Balat and Kayumi face five federal counts related to terrorism and explosive materials, with a federal indictment pending.
March 10, 2026
10:35 PM
New York explosive incident highlights challenge for agencies in wake of Iran war
New information:
- Homeland-security analyst Juliette Kayyem characterizes one recovered device as a 'very sophisticated, deadly IED' containing TATP that could have killed or injured 'over at least 100 people' if it had detonated in the dense crowd.
- Kayyem emphasizes that the two Pennsylvania teenagers had no criminal records or obvious organizational ties, describing the case as an example of diffuse, largely online ISIS radicalization among isolated young men.
- The discussion explicitly links rising concern over ISIS-related threats to the backdrop of the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran and notes that the incident comes as federal funding for the Department of Homeland Security is uncertain.
- Kayyem contrasts older post‑9/11 counterterrorism models—focused on tracing travel, training, and known network ties—with today’s challenge of detecting self‑radicalizing individuals who leave few detectable traces until they act.
5:00 PM
Alleged ISIS-inspired suburban terrorists lived 10 miles apart but were 'strangers' before NYC attack: Lawyer
New information:
- Defense attorney for Emir Balat claims Balat and co-defendant Ibrahim Kayumi were 'strangers' and had no prior family, school, or cohabitation ties despite living about 10 miles apart in suburban Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
- Balat is an 18‑year‑old high-school senior finishing three remaining classes remotely in the Neshaminy School District; Kayumi graduated in 2024 from Council Rock High School North.
- The article reiterates that both men are being held without bail on federal charges including attempting to provide material support to ISIS and using a weapon of mass destruction.
- Visual details and local reporting on FBI searches of both defendants’ homes in Newtown and Langhorne, Pennsylvania, including neighborhood context.
- Further detail on Balat’s alleged handwritten pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State at the precinct and his alleged attempt to flash what officers believed to be an ISIS-style hand salute while being processed.
3:17 PM
CNN torched over 'bizarre' post about Pennsylvania teenagers charged with throwing bombs at a NYC protest
New information:
- Confirms again that the two suspects are 18‑year‑old Emir Balat of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and 19‑year‑old Ibrahim Kayumi of Newtown, Pennsylvania, who traveled from Bucks County to Manhattan the day of the attack.
- Notes that both men have been charged federally with material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and use of a weapon of mass destruction, aligning with but not expanding on earlier charging details.
- Adds that CNN posted, then deleted, an X post describing them simply as 'Pennsylvania teenagers' whose lives 'drastically changed,' and that CNN publicly acknowledged the post 'failed to reflect the gravity of the incident.'
- Documents a wave of criticism from commentators, advocacy groups and at least one member of Congress accusing CNN of downplaying or sanitizing an ISIS‑inspired bombing by focusing on the suspects’ youth rather than alleged terrorism.
11:12 AM
Trump gives mixed signals on Iran war. And, how Epstein built ties to scientists
New information:
- NPR identifies both suspects as Pennsylvania residents, ages 18 (Emir Balat) and 19 (Ibrahim Kayumi), and says they allegedly targeted right‑wing protesters at an anti‑Muslim protest outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence.
- The article notes that Balat and Kayumi allegedly began talking to authorities after arrest and waived their Miranda rights, according to newly filed court documents.
- Those documents say the two told police they watched ISIS material on their phones, and that Balat wrote he had 'pledged allegiance to the Islamic state' and wanted an attack 'bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing.'
7:58 AM
FBI hunts for clues after 2 men charged with lighting bombs at NYC protest
New information:
- ABC identifies that journalists photographed Emir Balat hurling a lit, smoking device later found to contain TATP, which self‑extinguished without injuring anyone.
- Details that a second device was dropped by Balat near police officers before he tried to flee and was tackled and arrested.
- Confirms that some recovered devices are still undergoing testing and that the FBI is conducting multiple searches, including examination of a Pennsylvania storage unit.
- Adds defense counsel Mehdi Essmidi’s characterization of Balat as a confused 18‑year‑old with 'complicated stuff going on' who 'doesn’t have any idea what he’s doing,' and that Balat and Kayumi had not known each other long.
- Quotes NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch saying there is no indication so far that the attack is linked to the ongoing war in Iran.
March 09, 2026
11:49 PM
Storage facility raided as feds investigate alleged ISIS-inspired NYC bomb throwers
New information:
- Federal investigators executed a search warrant Monday evening at a Public Storage facility in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, described by a federal source as connected to the ongoing terrorism investigation.
- Helicopter footage showed a large federal and local law‑enforcement presence at the Langhorne storage complex as agents conducted the search.
- The article republishes images from the federal complaint showing suspect Emir Balat allegedly handling Device‑1 and Device‑2—including descriptions that Device‑1 was mason‑jar‑sized, contained TATP, and had nuts and bolts taped to the exterior—providing additional visual and technical detail on the alleged IEDs.
10:40 PM
News Wrap: 2 charged with bringing explosives to New York protest
New information:
- PBS segment confirms that federal prosecutors have now formally charged two men with attempting to support ISIS after allegedly bringing bombs to a New York City protest.
- The piece frames the event as part of a broader security response in Europe, with several European countries stepping up security after explosions in Norway and Belgium, tying the New York case into a wider threat environment.
- The segment reiterates that the Justice Department says it has reached a tentative antitrust agreement with Ticketmaster and Live Nation, indicating DOJ’s terrorism and antitrust actions were both announced or highlighted on the same day.
7:04 PM
Suspect in NYC terror probe planned attack 'bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing,' prosecutors say
New information:
- Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have filed a criminal complaint against Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, formally charging them with five federal offenses: attempted provision of material support 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.
- Prosecutors allege that after his arrest Balat said he and Kayumi wanted to carry out an assault 'bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing' and that Balat later wrote a note pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.
- The article specifies that NYPD body‑camera footage captured Kayumi responding 'ISIS' when asked why he carried out the attack, and notes that preliminary testing indicates at least one of the devices contained TATP.
- Balat and Kayumi appeared in shackles in federal court in Manhattan, with a preliminary hearing set for April 8.
4:52 PM
NYPD investigating explosives at rally outside Mamdani’s residence
New information:
- The right‑wing rally outside Gracie Mansion was led by Jake Lang, a far‑right provocateur previously charged with assaulting a police officer on Jan. 6, 2021, and later pardoned by President Trump.
- Lang billed the event as a 'Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City' demonstration, which devolved into clashes with a large crowd of counterprotesters.
- Commissioner Jessica Tisch said three members of Lang’s group were charged with disorderly conduct and a fourth with unlawfully using pepper spray during the rally.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were not at Gracie Mansion when the devices were thrown.
- The article reiterates that NYPD, federal prosecutors and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are working together, and notes that Tisch and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton were expected to release a criminal complaint against the suspects later Monday.
- Tisch explicitly said investigators have not linked the action to the joint U.S.–Israel military campaign in Iran, pushing back on an obvious war‑related narrative.
3:37 PM
Attempted attack with explosives in New York City investigated as "ISIS-inspired terrorism"
New information:
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch explicitly said NYPD and FBI are investigating the incident as an 'act of ISIS‑inspired terrorism' and that federal charges are expected to be unsealed soon.
- Tisch confirmed that at least one of the two devices thrown Saturday was made with triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a high‑explosive commonly used in IEDs worldwide.
- Officials disclosed that a third device, which did not contain explosive material, was discovered and rendered safe Sunday in a vehicle near the protest site.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned the anti‑Muslim protest as rooted in 'bigotry' while also defending organizer Jake Lang’s right to protest and stressing that 'New York City will never tolerate violence.'
- Authorities stated there is currently no evidence linking the attempted attack to the Iran war, though the city remains on a heightened state of alert because of that conflict.
2:23 PM
Explosives thrown near New York City mayor's residence investigated as 'ISIS-related terrorism,' police say
New information:
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch publicly confirmed the incident is being investigated as an 'act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.'
- Tisch stated there is currently no information linking the incident to Iran or the war in Iran, explicitly distancing it from overseas conflict.
- The article specifies that both suspects are in custody but had not yet been charged at the time of the press conference.
- Detailed description that one device partially ignited and extinguished a few steps from police, while a second device dropped by the same person did not appear to ignite.
- Clarifies that a suspicious Honda Civic was removed by flatbed truck after nearby buildings were evacuated, and streets were then reopened.
1:49 PM
Explosives thrown near New York City mayor's residence investigated as 'ISIS-related terrorism'
New information:
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the incident is being investigated as an act of "ISIS-inspired terrorism" and that authorities are examining whether the suspects were inspired by ISIS.
- Tisch stated investigators currently have no information connecting the incident to Iran or the ongoing war with Iran.
- ABC’s account adds on-the-record details that the protest was a "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City" event led by far-right activist and Jan. 6 defendant Jake Lang, recently freed under Trump clemency and now running for U.S. Senate in Florida.
- Police described one device as a smoking object filled with nuts, bolts, screws and a hobby fuse that extinguished itself near officers, and a second device that did not ignite; both were thrown or dropped by the same individual.
- Authorities evacuated nearby buildings and towed away a Honda Civic from East End Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets as part of the response.
12:32 PM
Terrorism probe underway after homemade explosive devices thrown outside Mamdani's residence
New information:
- CBS piece reinforces that the FBI’s terrorism unit is leading the investigation into the IEDs thrown during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor.
- Confirms again that two men have been arrested in connection with the incident, aligning with prior reporting.
- Frames the incident clearly as having begun with an anti‑Islam protest that drew counter‑protesters, underlining the protest context for the attack.
12:20 PM
Warrants served in New Jersey, Pennsylvania as feds look into possible NYC terrorism
New information:
- Federal agents on Monday served search warrants in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at the homes of suspects Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, who remain in custody.
- Investigators also executed a search warrant at a related address in New Jersey.
- An NYPD source reiterated that the devices thrown into the NYC protest crowd were packed with nuts, bolts and screws and contained a chemical substance inside a taped canister with a fuse.
1:44 AM
Latest on homemade bomb ignited at protest outside NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence
New information:
- Confirms that one of the devices was thrown directly into a crowd during the protest outside the mayor’s official residence.
- Reiterates the FBI is specifically 'investigating two men' in connection with the incident, aligning with prior reporting on two arrested suspects.
- Frames the protest outside Gracie Mansion as having 'turned violent' when the bomb was ignited and thrown, underscoring crowd‑safety risk.
March 08, 2026
9:40 PM
Police swarm NYC street amid probe into IED thrown near Gracie Mansion
New information:
- NYPD cordoned off East End Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets on Sunday and publicly urged residents to avoid the area due to 'ongoing police activity' linked to the Gracie Mansion IED case.
- Fox cites NYPD sources saying the Sunday operation is directly connected to the investigation of the two devices recovered during Saturday’s dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion.
- Three federal law‑enforcement sources told Fox that one suspect allegedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before throwing the IED into the crowd.
- Retired NYPD inspector Paul Mauro told Fox the devices were allegedly filled with TATP, calling it a 'favorite of real terrorists,' and said a vehicle registered to a relative of one of the suspects was located in the Upper East Side area.
- The NYPD Bomb Squad x‑rayed both devices, rendered them safe, and they are being transported to the FBI lab at Quantico for further analysis.
8:59 PM
NYPD confirms object thrown at protests near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan was an IED
New information:
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Bomb Squad analysis shows the first device was 'in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death,' not a hoax device or mere smoke bomb.
- Authorities are continuing analysis of a second recovered device, which has not yet been fully characterized.
- Fox News cites three federal law-enforcement sources saying the two main suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, are believed to be U.S. citizens.
- The NYPD confirmed that the Joint Terrorism Task Force — including the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York — is working the case with NYPD.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a public statement condemning both the anti-Muslim protest and the subsequent use of an explosive device, calling the attempted IED attack 'reprehensible.'
8:19 PM
FBI investigating after explosive devices ignited outside of NYC mayor's home
New information:
- FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken the lead and launched a formal terrorism investigation, with terrorism charges described as pending.
- Law enforcement sources told CBS News the devices were sports drink bottles with explosive material set inside glass jars, packed with nuts and bolts, and fused using an M80-type firework.
- Two sources said the IEDs contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile explosive often synthesized from acetone and hydrogen peroxide.
- Suspects identified as 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi from Pennsylvania; videos show Balat allegedly throwing an ignited device while a voice yells “Allahu Akbar.”
- Investigators are examining whether at least one suspect was inspired by ISIS messaging and are reviewing overseas travel by both men, including trips to Istanbul and Saudi Arabia.
- Search warrants are expected to be executed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as part of the investigation, and detailed travel timelines for both suspects are provided.
3:29 AM
Dramatic video shows NYPD tackling man who threw ‘ignited device’ near NYC mayor’s home during protest clash
New information:
- Identifies the 18-year-old counter-protester as Emir Balat and the 19-year-old alleged accomplice as Ibrahim Nikk.
- Details that Balat allegedly lit and threw one ignited device that landed in a crosswalk near officers, then retrieved and lit a second device before dropping it as he fled.
- Describes the two protests by name: “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City: Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” (roughly 20 participants) and “Run the Nazis out of New York City: Stand Against Hate” (about 125 participants).
- Specifies that the anti-Islam protest was organized by individuals associated with pardoned Jan. 6 rioter Jake Lang, who used pepper spray on counter-protesters prior to the device incident.
- Provides technical description from police that the devices were jars wrapped in black tape, with nuts, bolts and screws inside and a hobby fuse, and that X-rays have not yet confirmed presence of energetic material.
- Reports three additional arrests at the scene for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, and notes continuing K‑9 and manual sweeps that have not found additional devices as of Saturday evening.
2:25 AM
Police investigating after device thrown at anti-Islam protest in New York City
New information:
- AP version confirms the counterprotester "lit and threw" a device containing nuts, bolts and screws at the anti-Islam crowd after someone from that group used pepper spray on counterprotesters.
- Commissioner Jessica Tisch states the device struck a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers and that a second device was dropped after being handed to the same individual.
- Article clarifies all three individuals (the pepper‑spray user, the device thrower, and the alleged accomplice) have been arrested and reiterates uncertainty over whether the devices were functional explosives or hoax devices.
- Piece restates that the anti‑Islam protest was tied to conservative influencer and Jan. 6 clemency recipient Jake Lang, and notes his announced run for U.S. Senate in Florida and prior Minneapolis protest activity.
March 07, 2026