ISIS Supporters Threw Bombs at NYC Protesters Outside Mayors Mansion: Even Bigger Than Boston

Two ISIS Supporters Charged After Throwing Homemade Bombs at NYC Protesters Near Mayor's Mansion

Two Pennsylvania teenagers have been charged with federal terrorism offenses after allegedly throwing homemade explosive devices at a crowd of protesters near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence at Gracie Mansion on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, allegedly drove to New York City and joined counterprotesters at an anti Islam demonstration organized near the Upper East Side mansion. According to a federal criminal complaint, the pair threw two improvised explosive devices into the crowd of protesters.

The devices, each approximately the size of a mason jar with attached fuses and nuts and bolts taped to the exterior, failed to fully detonate. A preliminary analysis of one device revealed it contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly volatile explosive material colloquially known as the "Mother of Satan" that has been used in multiple terrorist attacks worldwide over the past decade.

Both suspects were arrested at the scene by NYPD officers. After apprehension, both men independently told investigators they were affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS). Court documents reveal that when Balat was asked if he knew about the Boston Marathon bombings and whether that was what he wanted to accomplish, he allegedly responded:

No, even bigger. It was only three deaths.

Kayumi told police he "was affiliated with ISIS, watched ISIS propaganda on his phone" and was "partly inspired to carry out his actions that day by ISIS," according to the complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The FBI subsequently launched a full terrorism investigation. Agents executed search warrants at a Public Storage facility in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, linked to the suspects, where they recovered three containers with explosive residue and conducted controlled detonations. Investigators also discovered a notebook belonging to the suspects in which they had written about potential soft targets including shopping centers, suggesting they had been planning an attack for at least a week.

Both men appeared in court in white Tyvek suits, shackled, and were ordered held without bail. They face a five count federal complaint including attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.

FBI Investigates ISIS Inspired Bomb Plot at Gracie Mansion as Suspects Face Federal Terrorism Charges

The incident prompted heightened security around Gracie Mansion. On March 11, police sealed off East End Avenue after a parks worker spotted a suspicious object near the residence, which was later identified as a harmless jar containing liquid. Mayor Mamdani, who is the city's first Muslim mayor, thanked the NYPD for their rapid response.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the investigation is being treated as "an act of ISIS inspired terrorism," stating that the attack could have killed American citizens had the devices fully detonated.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let us be absolutely clear about what happened here. Two men, inspired by the Islamic State, brought bombs filled with the same explosive used by suicide bombers across the Middle East into the heart of an American city. They intended to kill as many people as possible and openly stated they wanted a body count higher than the Boston Marathon bombing. This is jihad on American soil.

The media will bend itself into knots trying to contextualize this, but the facts are plain. These men were radicalized by ISIS propaganda, built bombs containing military grade explosives, and threw them at civilians. Only by the grace of God did those devices fail to detonate. Imagine if a Christian had built a bomb and thrown it at a crowd in Mecca. Every government on earth would have condemned it within the hour. Where is that same energy now?

Evil does not negotiate. It does not deserve nuance. It must be named, confronted, and defeated. Christians across every denomination must stand united against the ideology that produces these attacks, and we must demand our leaders do the same without apology.

Take Action

• Pray for the safety of all those who were present at the Gracie Mansion protest and for the NYPD officers who responded. Pray for protection over American cities and communities.
• Contact your Congressional representatives and demand stronger enforcement against ISIS recruitment and radicalization on American soil. Find your representative at house.gov.
• Report suspicious activity to the FBI's tip line at 1 800 CALL FBI (1 800 225 5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.
• Support persecuted Christians worldwide through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to believers under threat.
• Support organizations like Open Doors USA and Voice of the Martyrs that document and respond to Christian persecution globally.
• Have honest conversations with your family, church, and community about the reality of terrorism on American soil and the importance of vigilance and prayer.