Two Men Arrested in NYC for ISIS-Inspired Bomb Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions
One suspect, identified as Emir Balat, is running with a flaming bomb towards the NYPD. Source: Charly Triballeau/The Washington Post.
On March 7, two young men were arrested after lighting two homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence during an anti-Islam protest. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, described as “loving” and “quiet” high school students from Pennsylvania, were arrested after the incident.
The attack took place amid an anti-Islam rally organized by far-right-wing influencer Jake Lang, who led the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” protest outside Gracie Mansion, home of Mayor Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor. Lang was previously arrested for his involvement in the January 6 U.S. Capitol riots, and he formed a militia while serving time in prison called the North American Patriot and Liberty Militia.
Subsequently, the 20-participant rally was countered by a “Drive the Nazis Out of New York” protest, which peaked at around 125 people. Originating in 1939 in New York, around 100,000 anti-Nazi protestors gathered at Madison Square Garden to oppose a pro-Nazi rally organized by the German American Bund. Lang is widely known for his antisemitic and anti-Muslim actions; in January, he gave a Nazi salute outside the headquarters of the pro-Israel lobby group, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee. In November 2025, Lang staged an anti-Muslim rally, where he attempted to set a Quran, a sacred text of Islam, on fire. Lang’s presence illustrates how extremist figures can
Tensions escalated when a member of Lang’s rally pepper-sprayed counter-protestors. Ian McGinnis, 21, was arrested and released without bond after pleading not guilty to assault and aggravated harassment. 20 minutes later, Balat “threw an ignited device toward the protest area,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. After extinguishing before police officers, Balat grabbed a second device from Kayumi before lighting it and running. Neither device exploded, and both suspects were subsequently arrested.
Authorities are investigating the incident as an act of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired terrorism. Iraqi jihadists, who believe violent struggle is necessary in restoring God’s rule on Earth, began calling themselves ISIS in 2013. ISIS initially targeted “apostate” regimes in the Arab world, governments that have rejected or abandoned their religion, namely the Asad regime in Syria and the Abadi regime in Iraq. But the U.S. became a target following intervention in the region, where American military advisors supported the Iraqi military.
Questions have been raised as to what this attack means regarding the U.S.’s war in Iran. In February, the U.S. and Israel began Operation Epic Fury by launching large-scale strikes in Iran, to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” as President Donald Trump asserted the regime had long-range missiles that could reach the U.S. Conversely, ISIS and Iran have long been adversaries. The largest branches of Islam are Sunni and Shi’a. Around 90% of Iranians practice Shi’a Islam, while the surrounding countries are mostly Sunni. ISIS is a Sunni Muslim group that regards Shi’a Muslims as apostates and should therefore be killed.
On the other hand, Iran views ISIS as a terrorist organization. The Islamic State may be seeking to exploit the U.S. war in Iran to recruit members. Since the U.S. launched strikes, an ISIS-inspired cell may use that as an excuse to conduct an attack. This is consistent with the attack outside Gracie Mansion and another on March 12 at Old Dominion University in Virginia, where a known ISIS supporter killed an Army lieutenant colonel. However, Commissioner Tisch confirmed that there is currently no information connecting the investigation to the ongoing war in Iran.
Following their arrest, Balat and Kayumi admitted to authorities that they were inspired by ISIS. When asked if he was intending to replicate the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Balat said, “No, even bigger.” According to the criminal complaint filed in New York federal court, Balat wrote on a piece of paper that he pledged allegiance to ISIS and called for the death of nonbelievers. Kayumi, after waiving his Miranda rights, told authorities that he watched ISIS propaganda on his phone, and his actions were partly inspired by the terrorist group.
Balat and Kayumi are being federally prosecuted in Manhattan, facing charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, using a weapon of mass destruction, transporting explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosive materials, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. The charges carry potential sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
Mayor Mamdani condemned the demonstration as “vile” and “rooted in white supremacy,” emphasizing that “New York City will never tolerate violence, whether from protests or counterprotests.” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi affirmed Mamdani’s stance, declaring it “would not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation.”
Although no devices detonated and no one was injured, anti-Islam protests and counter-protests outside Gracie Mansion are expected to continue. ISIS-inspired attacks don’t seem to be uncommon, yet there is no evidence that ISIS is directly facilitating these incidents. Mayor Mamdani, who has faced increased scrutiny and Islamophobic attacks since his campaign, most notably from Senator Tommy Tuberville and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, has denounced the violence while defending his faith. His swift response has spurred support from the Muslim community and fellow New Yorkers, inspiring calls for peaceful, nonviolent protest.