New video captures the moment 18-year-old Emir Balat was tackled by police after allegedly throwing a homemade bomb at a protest outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence, Gracie Mansion, on March 7. Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, both from Pennsylvania, are accused of driving from Bucks County to Manhattan to carry out the attack.
Alleged Bombing and Arrest Details
Federal prosecutors say the men threw live explosive devices containing TATP, duct tape, nuts, and bolts into a protest. Law enforcement officers quickly subdued Balat, with footage showing NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards approving the arrest. An individual at the scene was heard shouting “bomb” just after Balat was tackled.
Balat reportedly told investigators he wanted the attack to be “bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing.” Authorities recovered photos of the suspects handling the explosive devices and seized explosive residue from a self-storage unit linked to the case in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
Terrorism Investigation and Evidence
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the devices were capable of causing serious injury or death and said the incident is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism. Prosecutors additionally reported that Balat signed a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State after being taken into custody.
Security footage shows Balat purchasing a 20-foot roll of fireworks fuse days before the attack. The FBI and local bomb squads conducted a controlled detonation of evidence found at the storage unit connected to the suspects, ensuring safety for law enforcement and the public.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.
