FBI Raids Homes Of 2 Teens Charged In Attempted ISIS-Inspired NYC Bombing

The FBI on Sunday raided the homes of two men who have since been charged in an ISIS-inspired attack outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence. 

The Pennsylvania homes of 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi were searched Sunday after they allegedly attempted to light an improvised explosive device (IED) outside of Mandani’s mayoral mansion during a protest on Saturday. The device did not detonate, but officials said it could have been deadly.

“Earlier this evening, federal and local law enforcement conducted investigative activity in Middletown Township and Newtown related to an incident that occurred yesterday near the New York City Mayor’s official residence,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Sunday. “Authorities have indicated that there is no known threat to the surrounding community, and the situation remains under the control of law enforcement. The activity was not related to immigration enforcement.”

On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media: “We have charged the two alleged ISIS-inspired terrorists who attempted to bomb a protest in New York City. We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation. Our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant.”

Both suspects reportedly made pro-ISIS statements while in custody, Fox News reported. On Monday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attempted bombing was an “act of inspired ISIS terrorism.”

Police in Newton Township, where Kayumi resides, said Sunday that they were working with the FBI on an investigation. His family’s 5,800-square-foot home is worth $2.25 million, the New York Post reported. His parents are reportedly from Afghanistan and were naturalized between 2004 and 2009. 

The home of Balat in Middletown Township was also searched on Sunday. That 3,200-square-foot home is worth $653,000, the New York Post reported. 

“The FBI, along with specialized federal teams, is conducting a court-authorized search warrant as part of a federal investigation related to an incident that occurred yesterday in New York City,” Middletown Township said. “There is no known threat to the public at this time, and this activity is not related to immigration enforcement.”

Balat is a high school senior in the Neshaminy School District, according to school officials. His parents are reportedly from Turkey and were naturalized in 2017. 

Middletown Township Police Department.

An additional residence in New Jersey was raided as part of the investigation, Fox News reported. 

“FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the matter with our partners at NYPD as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,” the FBI said on Sunday. “Preliminary analysis confirms one of the devices ignited and deployed by the subjects was an IED explosive. Tests remain ongoing for other devices.”