Ibrahim Kayumi and Emir Balat, 19 and 18 respectively, were arrested outside Gracie Mansion after allegedly planning to detonate a homemade bomb targeting up to 60 people at a protest against Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Dashcam audio captured one suspect declaring, “I want to start terror, bro,” while prosecutors claim the pair sought to kill attendees of an anti-Muslim rally organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang.

The plot involved a TATP explosive—dubbed the “Mother of Satan” by investigators—mixed with hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid. Balat tested bomb fuses and instructed Kayumi on detonation tactics, including timing attacks to coincide with police movements. Authorities seized materials from a Philadelphia suburbs storage unit, including TATP residue and bomb-making components, alongside a handwritten threat echoing ISIS rhetoric.

The indictment details a conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, with Balat admitting plans to throw two explosive devices at protesters. Though the bombs failed to detonate, prosecutors emphasized the attackers’ “meticulous planning” and fanatical devotion to ISIS, citing post-arrest statements and a notebook outlining attack logistics. Balat also referenced targeting “Individual-1,” a figure linked to Lang’s event.

The case underscores escalating tensions around anti-Muslim extremism and federal counterterrorism efforts. While Jake Lang—pardoned by President Trump in 2021—remains a focal point, prosecutors did not name him in charges. Legal analysts note the plot’s scale and specificity reflect growing risks of homegrown radicalization, with the FBI highlighting the duo’s cross-state coordination from Pennsylvania to New York.