CNN Faces Backlash Over Misreporting in NYC ISIS Attack Coverage

CNN recently found itself in hot water after making a significant error during a segment introduction concerning a suspected ISIS-inspired bombing attempt near the home of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the weekend.

The blunder occurred on Tuesday’s episode of CNN NewsNight, where host Abby Phillip mistakenly claimed that Mayor Mamdani was the intended victim of the attack.

In reality, the suspects, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, targeted far-right protesters gathered outside Gracie Mansion. These protesters were rallying against what they perceived as an ‘Islamic takeover of New York City.’ It is noteworthy that Mamdani, who is 34, is a Muslim.

During the program, Phillip stated, “Up next, two Republicans say Muslims don’t belong here after an attempted terror attack against New York’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani.”

She further added, “And the House speaker, Mike Johnson, says nothing, really, to condemn those comments.”

‘Another special guest is going to be with us at the table when we come back.’

Onlookers quickly clipped the moment and questioned Phillip’s mindset.

The 37-year-old host was ultimately forced to issue an apology, hours after CNN deleted a tweet that the network admitted had made light of the attack. It described the suspects as ‘two teenagers’ who ‘could’ve been [out on] a normal day enjoying the city.’

CNN’s Abby Phillip falsely stated New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was the true target of an ISIS-inspired terror attack during Tuesday’s CNN NewsNight

The host was ultimately forced to issue an apology, hours after CNN deleted a tweet that the network admitted had made light of the attack

Phillip wrote on X the following morning: ‘I want to correct something I said last night.

‘The bombs thrown in New York City over the weekend by ISIS-inspired attackers was thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protestors and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. 

‘That wording was inaccurate and I didn’t catch it ahead of time. I apologize for the error.’

Her apology was offered as outlets began covering the slip-up.

RealClearInvestigations reporter Paul Sperry remarked hours before on X how Mamdani and his wife ‘weren’t even at home at the time.’  

Daily Wire Editor Brent Scher tweeted: ‘Amazing that CNN started and ended the day completely botching this story’ – a reference to the social media slip-up seen earlier in the day.

A poorly worded X post was deleted by the network around 9.30am Tuesday, after it described suspects Balat and Kayumi as ‘two Pennsylvania teenagers’ who simply ‘crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather.’

‘But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home,’ it continued.

Suspects (from left) Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, actually hurled explosives at far-right protesters. The two traveled together from Pennsylvania that morning

CNN was forced to delete a post that linked to a report on the ISIS-inspired bombing Tuesday morning, after language used by the poster admittedly made light of the attack. The post was deleted sometime around 9am but was screen-capped by various X users

The post’s forgiving language was promptly ridiculed by a host of onlookers.

CNN rapidly released a statement admitting the post ‘failed to reflect the gravity of the incident, thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting.’

‘It has therefore been deleted,’ a CNN spokesman told the Daily Mail – after a storm of criticism. 

The suspects, as of writing, have both been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. Each told officials they were inspired by ISIS. Balat also stood with counter-protesters who convened during the incident, according to a federal complaint. 

Both are also said to have told police that their intent was for the attack to be ‘even larger’ than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, which killed three.

Not much else is known about the suspects, aside from their alleged support of a designated foreign terrorist organization.  

Officials confirmed the men traveled together from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to the protest site shortly before the incident.

‘This was an alleged ISIS-inspired act of terrorism that could have killed American citizens. We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation,’ Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement Monday.

The group had gathered outside Gracie Mansion to protest what was framed as an ‘Islamic takeover of New York City’

FBI Assistant Director in Charge, James C Barnacle, Jr, also alleged that the suspects were ‘inspired by ISIS.’

NYPD Commissioner Jessica S Tisch called the failed strike ‘an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.’

Balat and Kayumi both remain in custody on domestic terrorism charges.