Gracie Mansion Bombing Suspect Flashes ISIS Salute as Feds Unseal Criminal Complaint

One of two Pennsylvania men accused of throwing explosive devices near Gracie Mansion flashed what appeared to be an ISIS salute while being led in shackles from a police precinct, as federal authorities prepared to unseal criminal charges in the case on Monday.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton are holding a press conference to formally unseal the criminal complaint against Emir Balat of Langhorne and Ibrahim Kayumi of Newton, Pennsylvania, both of whom were taken into custody following the incident outside the official residence of New York City’s mayor.

The suspects allegedly told investigators they had watched ISIS videos before confronting far-right provocateur Jake Lang during dueling demonstrations outside Gracie Mansion. According to law enforcement sources, approximately 20 organizers associated with Lang’s group staged an anti-Muslim protest while roughly 120 counterprotesters gathered in opposition.

The explosive devices, initially believed to be smoke bombs, were later determined by the NYPD bomb squad to be possible improvised explosive devices. Law enforcement officials described the weapons as jars wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts, and screws along with a hobby fuse—components consistent with shrapnel-based explosives designed to maximize injuries.

The devices are being transported to the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for additional forensic testing as part of what has now become a federal terrorism investigation. FBI agents have launched large-scale operations at the Bucks County, Pennsylvania home of one of the suspects, according to sources familiar with the ongoing probe.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, condemned the violence in strong terms, describing the incident as rooted in bigotry and racism. Mayor Mamdani called the use of explosive devices “reprehensible” and emphasized that violence at protests is never acceptable, stating such actions are criminal and contrary to New York City values.

Authorities also arrested one member of the anti-Muslim protest group who allegedly deployed pepper spray against a counterprotester during the confrontation. The incident has heightened concerns about escalating violence at politically charged demonstrations in the nation’s largest city.

The case highlights the ongoing challenge facing law enforcement as extremist ideologies continue to fuel potential acts of domestic terrorism. The decision by federal prosecutors to take the lead in the investigation signals the seriousness with which authorities are treating the alleged bomb attack on a location as symbolically significant as the mayor’s official residence.

Both suspects remain in custody pending their initial court appearances. The unsealing of the criminal complaint is expected to reveal additional details about the charges and the government’s evidence in the case.