Timeline tracks movement of 2 men accused in alleged ISIS-inspired NYC terror plot
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BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. — Two young men from Pennsylvania are accused of traveling to New York City on March 7 with a pair of homemade bombs and throwing them at protesters and police officers.
Neither device exploded. Police detained both people at the scene. The suspects, identified by the FBI as supporters of the ISIS terrorist organization, were identified as 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old İbrahim Kayumi.
Prosecutors say they brought the devices to target a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s Manhattan home.
Prosecutors say suspect in New York terrorism investigation planned attack ‘BIGGER THAN BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING’
Here is the timeline of events:
Monday, March 2:
Security footage obtained by Fox News Digital shows Balat purchasing a 20-foot roll of roving from Phantom Fireworks in Penndel, Pennsylvania. The purchase was made just two days after the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran and killed dozens of senior leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
WATCH: Surveillance video shows New York terror suspect buying insurance in Pennsylvania
“The only product purchased was 20-foot consumer fireworks safety insurance,” Phantom Fireworks Vice President and General Counsel William Weimer told Fox News Digital. “Total spend was $6.89 including tax.”
The same type of fuse would later be seized during a search of a vehicle in Manhattan.
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Saturday, March 7:
About 20 people on the street outside Gracie Mansion participated in a protest that organizers titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City: Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer.” About 125 more people joined the counter-protest, titled “Remove the Nazis from New York City: Stand Up to Hate.”
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)
The two sides clashed and at least one person was arrested before the attack.
MYSTERIOUS CALLS MADE FROM THE FAMILY HOME OF TERRORIST SUSPECT IN NYC AFTER ALLEGED ISIS-INSPIRED ATTACK.
In the video, Balat can be seen coming out from behind a counter-protester at around 12:15 a.m. and throwing the first device at the intersection of 87th Street and East End Boulevard.
Although it produced smoke, the explosive material inside did not explode and saved nearby people from the metal and glass shrapnel inside.
Emir Balat runs after leaving something allegedly an IED at the feet of NYPD officers. He was arrested a few minutes later and the device did not work. (Ministry of Justice Public Relations Department)
Another video shows Kayumi handing a second IED to Balat, who burns it and drops it at the feet of a group of police officers. After the explosion failed, the police arrested him.
“After being captured by NYPD officers, both Balat and Kayumi stated that they were collaborators with ISIS,” US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a statement.
18-year-old Emir Balat was arrested for allegedly throwing explosives during a protest in front of Gracie Mansion against far-right extremist Jake Lang’s alleged “Islamization of New York”. (Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Hours after the arrests, someone from Kayumi’s home called law enforcement multiple times. The first two searches were made on Saturday at 16:15 and 21:19. The third came just before 9pm on Sunday. Officials did not release additional details.
Two NYPD members, Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro was later honored for his heroism by city leaders.
Sunday, March 8:
Close-up images show explosive materials and shrapnel inside one of the alleged ISIS-inspired bombs seized in New York City after a failed terrorist attack on March 7. (Ministry of Justice Public Relations Department)
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that the bomb squad’s preliminary investigation found “an improvised explosive device that could cause serious injury or death.”
He added that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) was assisting with the case and did not mention Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose wife, Rama Duwaji, is accused of “liking” social media posts supporting Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel, criticized protest organizer Jake Lang X by name in a post about the failed bombing.
“White supremacist Jake Lang staged a protest in front of Gracie Mansion based on bigotry and racism. Such hatred has no place in New York,” he wrote. “This is an insult to the values of our city and the unity that defines who we are.”
He condemned the “violence” without mentioning the suspected terrorist motive.
“What followed was even more disturbing,” he wrote. “Violence at a protest is never acceptable. Any attempt to use explosives to harm others is not only a crime, it is reprehensible behavior and is the antithesis of who we are.”
He also thanked NYPD officers at the scene for their quick response, years after he called the department. will be dismantled in another X post.
NYPD Bomb Squad officers are searching for a car allegedly belonging to a person who tried to throw a homemade explosive at police officers in New York City. (Ryan Murphy/Getty)
Separately, police found a vehicle belonging to one of Balat’s relatives parked near Gracie Mansion. Inside, they allegedly found additional explosive materials and handwritten notes referring to “TATP,” the volatile compound that police say is used in IEDs.
Monday, March 9:
FBI bomb technicians found “explosive residue” in a Pennsylvania storage unit allegedly tied to Balat and Kayumi. They carried out a controlled explosion.
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A federal source confirmed to Fox News that federal authorities raided a storage facility in Pennsylvania in connection with the investigation into men accused of an ISIS-inspired bombing in NYC. (Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner)
“This was an act of terrorism, allegedly inspired by ISIS, that could have killed American citizens,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. he said. “We will not allow ISIS’ toxic, anti-American ideology to threaten this country; our law enforcement will remain vigilant, as they were when these devices were brought to the protest.”
The SDNY also announced federal charges against the suspects and released new details about their alleged support for ISIS.
A man was arrested for allegedly throwing a homemade smoke bomb during the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” protest on March 7, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
“All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!” Balat wrote after being given a pen and paper following his arrest, according to the FBI. “I pledge allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your anger yu [sic] infidel! Emir B.”
Kafir is an Arabic term that refers to non-Muslims.
ISIS-inspired terrorist Ibrahim Kayumi was detained by New York Police Department (NYPD) officers in front of Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Madison Swart/REUTERS)
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Kayumi allegedly told police that he had been watching ISIS propaganda on his phone and was partly inspired by the terror group.
Balat and Kayumi face life imprisonment on charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, using a weapon of mass destruction, carrying explosives and unlawfully possessing a destructive device.
