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BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. — The two men from Pennsylvania charged with planning an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New York City were reportedly “strangers” before their alleged conspiracy, according to the attorney representing one of the suspects.
Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown, and 18-year-old Emir Balat are accused of hurling live explosives into a protest outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, followed their journey from Bucks County, federal authorities reported.
Mehdi Essmidi, the lawyer for Balat, told reporters that his client and Kayumi were not acquainted before the foiled attack.
“To my knowledge, they are strangers,” Essmidi stated. “They hail from different regions of Pennsylvania, belong to different age groups, and have no prior connections. They do not cohabit, nor do they share familial or educational links.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has charged Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, with bringing improvised explosive devices to the protest outside the New York City mayor’s home.
Though Balat is in high school, his attorney told reporters that he was finishing classes remotely.
“He’s 18, he’s finishing school remotely because he has only like three classes left to do. He’s in his senior year,” Essmidi said.
A district spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Balat is currently in 12th grade in the Neshaminy School District. Kayumi graduated in 2024 from Council Rock High School North, school officials confirmed.
The spokesperson told Fox News that Balat attended Neshaminy High School until September 2025 before going remote.
Area where Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi lived in Pennsylvania. Kayumi graduated from Council Rock High School North. According to a district spokesperson, Balat attended Neshaminy High School until September 2025 before going remote. A search warrant connected to the terror investigation was executed at Public Storage on Monday evening, a source told Fox News. (Google Maps)
Prosecutors said in a complaint that a series of pictures show the men handling the alleged bomb, which was later determined to have contained TATP and had nuts and bolts attached with duct tape.
On Sunday, FBI agents searched the homes of 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi in Newtown and 18-year-old Emir Balat in Langhorne. The home is seen here on Monday, March 9. (Greg Wehner for Fox News Digital)
Emir Balat family’s home in Pennsylvania. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were being held without bail after a court appearance Monday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. (Greg Wehner for Fox News Digital)
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday that the devices were real and capable of causing serious injury or death.
“This is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism,” Tisch said.
While at a precinct station after being arrested, Balat allegedly wrote and signed a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State, according to federal prosecutors.
“All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State,” Balat allegedly wrote. “We take action.”
A search warrant was executed at a Public Storage self-storage facility in Langhorne on Monday evening, a source confirmed to Fox News. The source added that the search is connected to the terror investigation.
FBI New York said on Tuesday that “explosive residue” was found at the storage unit.
A large law enforcement presence was seen outside a Public Storage facility in Langhorne, Pennsylvania on Monday, March 9. (Greg Wehner for Fox News Digital)
“Yesterday’s search of the storage unit believed to be connected the Gracie Mansion incident revealed explosive residue. FBI Special Agent Bomb Technicians and the local bomb squads conducted a controlled detonation to ensure the safety of law enforcement and others in the area. We’re thankful for the assistance of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office and the local Middletown and Newton agencies who assisted our office throughout the night,” FBI New York posted on X.
The suspect appears to run away after he allegedly threw the explosive. (United States District Court for the Southern District of New York)
Balat allegedly told law enforcement that he and Kayumi wanted to go through with an attack “bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing.”
WATCH: Gracie Mansion bomb suspects processed at New York City’s 19th precinct.
While being processed at a local precinct station, a police officer tried to stop Balat from making hand signals to the crowd, which some believe is a salute to ISIS.