The FBI said on Tuesday, March 10, that it found "explosive residue" at a storage unit in Pennsylvania as part of its investigation into two teenagers charged withthrowing homemade bombsduring a protest outside the official residence of New York City MayorZohran Mamdani.
In a federal complaint unsealed on March 9, authorities said the teens — Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18 — told police following their arrests that they were inspired by the Islamic State. The two were taken into custody on March 7 after New York City police said they attempted to ignite twoimprovised explosive devices, or IEDs, duringdueling protestsnear Gracie Mansion, the Manhattan home of Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor.
The teens, who are both from Pennsylvania, wereindicted on March 9on federal charges of attempting to support ISIS and use of a weapon of mass destruction, court records show. Authorities said Balat and Kayumi traveled to Manhattan from thePhiladelphia suburbsto conduct the "ISIS-inspired" attack.
Conservative influencer Jake Lang (L) and supporters arrive at a protest in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters.Two people are in custody after reports of suspicious devices near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, police said March 7." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
A person holds a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person holds a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person flees during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person flees during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang against alleged "Islamification" and to ask for a "stop of public Muslim prayer" in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person is detained by police after throwing a suspicious device towards police during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
View of a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A person is detained by police after reportedly throwing a suspicious device during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang against in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang arrives at a protest he organized in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash as he arrives at a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
A man holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Conservative influencer Jake Lang stands next to a roasted pig during a protest organized by Lang in New York, in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Supporters of conservative influencer Jake Lang (facing camera) use pepper spray (C) as they face counter-protesters during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Supporters of conservative influencer Jake Lang (facing camera) use pepper spray (C) as they face counter-protesters during a protest organized by Lang in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Suspicious devices reported near NYC mayor home during protest. See the moment
Conservative influencer Jake Lang (L) and supporters arrive at a protest in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. Lang and his supporters clashed with counter-protesters.Two people are in custody after reports of suspicious devicesnear Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, police said March 7.
Balat, a senior in high school, told investigators he wanted the attack to be "even bigger" than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 that killed three people and injured hundreds of others, according to the complaint. Kayumi claimed to be affiliated with ISIS, charging documents state.
TheBucks County Courier Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that the FBI found explosive materials while executing search warrants at a storage unit in Middletown Township, a Philadelphia suburb. The FBI andMiddletown Township Police Departmentconfirmed the explosive materials were safely detonated late on March 9.
"Yesterday's search of the storage unit believed to be connected the Gracie Mansion incident revealed explosive residue," the FBI's New York field office said in apost on X. "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."
NYC mayor:Love him or hate him, why Americans are obsessed with Zohran Mamdani
Improvised explosive devices were lit during clash between anti-Islam protesters and counterprotesters
The incident on March 7 occurred during a clash between an anti-Islam protest led by conservative influencerJake Langand a large crowd of counterprotesters, according to police. Tensions between the two groups escalated, and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said two IEDs were lit outside of Gracie Mansion.
One of the devices, Tisch said, contained triacetone triperoxide or TATP, "a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in IED attacks around the world." The potential damage caused by the explosives could have been considerable, said Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD's deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism.
Advertisement
Both Balat and Kayumi, who officials initially described as counterprotesters, were seen on video throwing a pair of explosive devices toward the protesters, according to Mamdani. The mayor described the explosives as being made "to injure, maim, or worse."
The mayor and New York City's first lady,Rama Duwaji, were not home at the time of the incident.
Tisch has noted that investigators "do not have any information that connects" the explosive devices to the United States and Israel's ongoing war with Iran. Following the incident, New York officials increased patrols at houses of worship and deployed National Guard troops to transit hubs as they respond to a "heightened threat environment."
Iran war updates:US destroys mine-laying vessels in 'most intense day' of Iran strikes
Another suspicious device located near Gracie Mansion determined as 'non-threatening'
As part of the investigation, the NYPD found athird "suspicious device"in a vehicle near the scene on March 8. Police froze the area around the vehicle and used a robot to secure the scene as officers conducted limited evacuations of buildings in the vicinity.
Authorities said the car was linked to Balat and Kayumi and that the device was consistent with the other two homemade explosives. Police confirmed that the device was safely removed, and those evacuated were allowed to return to their residences.
Another suspicious device was discovered at Carl Schurz Park near Gracie Mansion on March 10, prompting officers to close down the park and several nearby streets, NYPD said in aseries of posts on X. Police later determined that the device was "non-threatening" and cleared the scene.
Contributing: Christopher Cann and Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY; Jo Ciavaglia and JD Mullane, Bucks County Courier Times
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:FBI finds 'explosive residue' tied to NY attack near Gracie Mansion