Accused Teenager Flashes ISIS Salute After Failed Bomb Attack Near NYC Mayor's Residence
In a chilling display of allegiance, one of the accused in a case involving explosive devices thrown near Gracie Mansion in New York City flashed a salute honouring ISIS as he was led in shackles from a police precinct on Monday. Emir Balat, an 18-year-old student, was seen holding up his right index finger and grinning at the press while being escorted by a police officer and an FBI agent.
Details of the Arrest and Failed Bombing
Balat, wearing a black T-shirt and beige pants, made the gesture before one of the officers flanking him slapped down his hand. He was arrested on Saturday along with 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi after a homemade “Mother of Satan” bomb was thrown at protesters outside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Upper East Side residence. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Saturday’s incident is being treated as an attempted ISIS-inspired terror attack, with the pair expected to face federal charges on Monday.
According to police and sources, Balat is accused of lighting and dropping a “Mother of Satan” improvised homemade explosive near police officers at around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The device consisted of a sports drink bottle filled with volatile explosive material TATP, set inside a glass jar surrounded by nuts and bolts. Authorities stated it could have been fatal if it had detonated, highlighting the severity of the threat.
Pro-ISIS Statements and Motivations
Law enforcement sources revealed that Balat used the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) after his police interview. Additionally, he was allegedly recorded on a police body camera after his arrest saying that when someone insults the name of the prophet Muhammad, “We take action.” During his police interview, Kayumi allegedly stated he carried out the failed attack for ISIS, according to sources.
The two teenagers reportedly made pro-ISIS statements while in police custody and admitted to watching Islamist terror propaganda videos, as federal law enforcement sources told Fox News correspondent CB Cotton. This underscores their radicalisation and intent behind the plot.
Background of the Accused and Investigation
Balat, whose parents are reportedly from Turkey but who became naturalised citizens in 2017, grew up in a four-bedroom, two-bath home in the Pennsylvania suburb of Langhorne, worth an estimated $653,000. His alleged sidekick, Kayumi, lived in a $2.25 million six-bedroom home near the New Jersey border, indicating diverse backgrounds among the accused.
Following the arrest, agents were seen raiding Balat’s home as a “terror investigation” was reportedly underway. The case continues to develop, with authorities emphasising the ongoing threat of domestic terror inspired by extremist groups like ISIS.
