ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY

Radical Emir Balat was arrested on Saturday near New York Mayor's Gracie Mansion. Photo: Madison Swart/Reuters

In New York, two young men are accused of preparing a terrorist attack after attempting to detonate explosives during an anti-Islamic protest near the residence of city mayor Zohran Mamdani on March 7, 2026. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, who law enforcement officials said are both US citizens from Pennsylvania, are accused of trying to use improvised explosive devices at an anti-Islam demonstration and a counterprotest near Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home Saturday. No device exploded, CNN reports.

According to the charges filed in the federal court of the Southern District of New York, both suspects admitted their involvement in the attempted terrorist attack and declared allegiance to the terrorist group Islamic State. One of the accused, according to police data, even stated that he was counting on a more deadly result than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

“This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the Prophet. We take action … If I didn’t do it someone else will come and do it,” said Emir Balat.

Fortunately, neither device exploded. New York Police Department bomb squad defused the bombs, which experts determined contained triacetone triperoxide – an extremely unstable explosive substance known as «Mother of Satan». Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that if detonated, the devices could have led to serious injuries or deaths.

Law enforcement authorities are treating the incident as an act of terrorism inspired by extremist ideology. Federal authorities have brought several charges against the suspects, including the use of weapons of mass destruction and attempted provision of support to a foreign terrorist organization.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on March 10 that the attack was "absolutely disgusting" and added that "they will not rest until justice prevails in this case".

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Congressman Randy Fine expressed concern about the spread of Islam in the USA.

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