Ex-jihadist says NYC terror suspects show ISIS radicalization threat
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A former jihadist turned counterterrorism agent warns that a lethal ideology is turning America’s youth into ISIS-inspired “superheroes.”
Mubin Shaikh was radicalized at the age of 20 but later deradicalized and became a counter-terrorism officer in Canada. Following the recent terrorist attack in New York City, he revealed the predatory nature of extremist recruiters.
“It’s like drug dealing. You give them something that [going to] get high. A child searching for meaning, belonging, purpose, a sense of identity,” Shaikh said in “Saturday in America.”
“He is a zero in real life and he goes online and suddenly he becomes Abu Jihad, a superhero. He turns from zero to hero overnight,” he added.
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İbrahim Kayumi (right) is pictured giving an object to Emir Balat, on the left. Both men were arrested on March 7 for allegedly attempting to bomb a protest in New York City and pledging allegiance to the ISIS terror group. (Ministry of Justice Public Relations Department)
On March 7, two teenagers attempted to use an IED at a demonstration in front of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home, Gracie Mansion. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, traveled from Pennsylvania to Manhattan to throw explosives into the crowd. According to the Department of Justice.
The incident is being investigated as “ISIS-inspired terrorism” after one of the suspects wrote and signed an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State, according to federal prosecutors.
Shaikh explained that ideology combined with grievances is what motivates young people. He described purpose and identity as a product sold by jihadist recruiters.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks alongside Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference at Gracie Mansion in New York City on March 9. (Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)
Shaikh noted that the United States had fought wars with other countries in the past, including Vietnam and Japan, but did not have a generation of young people “ready to kill Americans.”
“They don’t have an ideology that tells them, ‘Hey, these attacks are happening because you’re Muslim. That’s why. They hate you because of your identity and your religion. This is why you should stand up and attack them.'” he said.
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Shaikh added that young people away from the Middle East can quickly become radicalized online. Recalling the anti-terrorism efforts he carried out against the “Toronto 18” in Canada, he stated that young people were excited by what they saw on the internet.
Emir Balat, 18, was arrested for allegedly throwing a homemade smoke bomb during the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York” protest on March 7, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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“They were watching all these jihadist videos online about these guys training. And now this is art imitating life because now you see these videos, now I want to replicate these videos,” he added.
According to New York prosecutors, Balat told investigators he wanted to carry out a “bigger” attack than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that left three people dead and hundreds injured. Both suspects face life imprisonment.
