The timeline tracks the movements of 2 men suspected of a terrorist plot in NYC attributed to ISIS
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BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. — Two young men from Pennsylvania are accused of driving into New York City with homemade bombs before throwing them at protesters and police on March 7.
Both devices failed to detonate. Police arrested both men at the scene. They were identified as Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both described by the FBI as supporters of the Islamic State terrorist group.
Prosecutors said they brought the device to target a protest outside the mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion, in Manhattan.
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Here is the timeline of events:
Monday, March 2:
Surveillance footage obtained by Fox News Digital appears to show Balat purchasing a 20-foot fuse from Phantom Fireworks in Pendel, Pennsylvania. The purchase was made just two days after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran and killed dozens of top leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
WATCH: Surveillance video appears to show NYC terror suspect buying fuse in Pennsylvania
“One thing that was purchased was a 20-foot-long fuse for fireworks,” Phantom Fireworks Vice President and General Counsel William Weimer told Fox News Digital. “Total spent was $6.89 including tax.”
The same type of fuse would later be found during a search of the car in Manhattan.
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Saturday, March 7:
On the street outside Gracie Mansion, about 20 people joined organizers of a protest called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City: Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer.” A counter-demonstration titled “Run the Nazis out of New York City: Stand Against Hate” drew about 125 others.
Ibrahim Kayumi, right, pictured giving an item to Emir Balat, left. Both men were arrested on March 7 after allegedly trying to blow up a protest in New York City and pledging allegiance to the ISIS terrorist group. (Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs)
The two sides clashed, resulting in at least one being arrested before the attack.
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The video appears to show Balat coming out from behind a protester at about 12:15 pm and throwing the first device near the intersection of 87th Street and East End Avenue.
Although it was smoking, the explosives inside did not explode, saving the people nearby from the metal and glass pits that filled the interior.
Emir Balat runs after dropping a suspected IED at the feet of NYPD officers. He was arrested a short time later, and the device failed to turn off. (Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs)
Another video appears to show Kayumi handing Balat a second IED that he allegedly lit and dropped at the feet of a group of police officers. Police arrested him after it failed to detonate.
“After being apprehended by the NYPD, both Balat and Kayumi said they were working with ISIS,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a statement.
Emir Balat, 18, was arrested after allegedly throwing a firecracker during a protest organized by far-right activist Jake Lang against the alleged “Islamification of New York” outside Gracie Mansion. (Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Hours after the arrest, someone at Kayumi’s home called law enforcement several times. The first two calls were made at 4:15 pm and 9:19 pm on Saturday. The third came before 9pm on Sunday. Authorities have not released additional details.
Two members of the NYPD, Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro, later honored by city leaders for their bravery.
Sunday, March 8:
Closeups images show explosives and explosives inside one of the suspected ISIS-inspired bombs found in New York City after a failed terrorist attack on March 7. (Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs)
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that the bomb squad’s initial investigation found “an explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”
He added that the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) was assisting in the case and did not mention Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose wife Rama Duwaji was accused of “liking” social media posts promoting Hamas’ Oct. 7 2023, a terrorist attack in Israel, blasted protest organizer Jake Lang in X by name in a post about the failed bombing.
“White premacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion based on bigotry and bigotry. Such hatred has no place in New York City,” he wrote. “It is an undermining of the values of our city and the unity that defines who we are.”
He went on to criticize the “violence” without talking about the reason for the alleged terrorism.
“What happened next was even more disturbing,” he wrote. “Violence in a protest is totally unacceptable. The attempt to use an explosive and injure others is not only a crime, it is reprehensible and contradicts who we are.”
He also thanked NYPD officers who were on the scene for their quick response, years after he requested that the department be disbanded in another X position.
The NYPD Bomb Squad is searching for a vehicle suspected of trying to throw a homemade explosive device at police in New York City. (Ryan Murphy/Getty)
Separately, police found a parked car registered to one of Balat’s relatives parked near Gracie Mansion. Inside, they allegedly found more explosives and handwritten notes with the words “TATP,” compound police said were used in IEDs.
Monday, March 9:
FBI bomb experts found “explosive residue” in a Pennsylvania warehouse allegedly linked to Balat and Kayumi. They did a controlled explosion.
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An agency source confirmed to Fox News that authorities raided a storage facility in Pennsylvania in connection with an investigation into the men suspected of carrying out an ISIS-inspired bomb attack in NYC. (Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner)
“This was an act of terrorism allegedly inspired by ISIS that could have killed American citizens,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “We will not allow ISIS’s toxic, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation—our law enforcement officials will remain vigilant, as they were when these devices were brought to the protest.”
The SDNY also announced federal charges against the suspects and released new information about their alleged support for ISIS.
A man has been arrested after allegedly throwing a homemade smoke bomb at a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” protest on March 7, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
“All praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds!” Balat wrote after being given a pen and paper following his arrest, according to the FBI. “I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Eat your fury yu [sic] kuffar! Emir B.”
Kuffar is an Arabic word that refers to non-Muslims.
Ibrahim Kayumi, who is suspected of promoting ISIS, was arrested by New York Police Department (NYPD) officers outside the Gracie Mansion, which is the official residence of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Madison Swart/REUTERS)
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Kayumi is said to have told police that he watched ISIS propaganda on his phone and was inspired by the terrorist group.
Balat and Kayumi are facing life imprisonment on charges including attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist group, using a weapon of mass destruction, transporting explosives and illegally possessing destructive materials.
