2 men charged with using a weapon of mass destruction near NYC mayor’s home
Two men face charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction after a pair of homemade bombs were tossed during protests near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home Saturday, court documents show.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, also face charges of transportation of explosive materials; unlawful possession of destructive devices; and interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
Body-worn camera footage cited in the complaint shows that as Kayumi was being placed into an NYPD vehicle following his arrest on Saturday, “a person in the crowd asked why he’d done this,” and Kayumi responded with “ISIS,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Monday afternoon news conference.
After waiving his Miranda rights, Kayumi said he had “watched ISIS propaganda on his phone and that his actions that day were partly inspired by ISIS,” Tisch said.
Balat made statements while inside a police car and without being questioned by officers and said, “This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the Prophet. We take action … If I didn’t do it someone else will come and do it,” Tisch added.
Balat also told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the extremist group, the court document said.
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