the first Muslim mayor and the first socialist in the history of New York (United States), arouses passions, but also hatred. Equivalent to the current of progressive and integrative illusion that brought him to office last November, is the tide that rejects him: for his left-wing position without half measures, for his faith, his support for Palestine or his opposition to the war in Iran.
Meanwhile, attempts to boycott his actions, insults and online campaigns arise in parallel. But nothing had been as serious as what happened now in his own home, in Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the aldermen of the Big Apple.
As has become known in the last few hours, two men have been accused of detonating homemade bombs during a chaotic anti-Islamic protest in front of the house. Both have told police that they were inspired for their attack by the Islamist militant group. For this reason, they have been charged tonight with federal crimes related to terrorism, according to court records consulted by .
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, the name of those arrested, are accused of traveling from Pennsylvania with dangerous improvised explosive devices to Manhattan on Saturday. They took advantage of the fact that a small group of far-right Christian activists had planned the anti-Muslim demonstration in front of Gracie Mansion and carried homemade bombs there. The police action was quick, they were identified instantly, and even the press reported what happened, image by image.
A man identified as Emir Balat is arrested after throwing homemade bombs at the residence of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, on March 7, 2026.
Counter-protester Ibrahim Kayumi is arrested in front of Gracie Mansion, home of Zohran Mamdani, after throwing homemade bombs, on March 7, 2026.
Balat was captured in photographs and videos igniting a small improvised explosive device and throwing it toward anti-Muslim protesters before igniting a second device handed to him by Kayumi and dropping it, according to the criminal complaint. Police managed to intercept the smoking devices, jars with screws and bolts sealed with tape, and the explosive substance TATP, and no one was injured.
After their police arrest, they claimed to be inspired by the Islamic State. Balat, in particular, told police that he wanted to carry out an attack “even bigger” than the bombing in , which killed three people, according to the criminal complaint filed Monday in the US District Court in Manhattan.
Defense attorney Mehdi Essmidi, who represents Balat, said he is a U.S.-born high school senior of Turkish descent who turned 18 two months ago. “We are actively trying to determine how this occurred and how it got to this situation,” he said.
Right to protest
On Monday, speaking alongside police and in front of Gracie Mansion (where he now resides with his artist wife), Mamdani condemned the violence unleashed at the shelter and, in particular, the bombing. The Democrat, however, told reporters that he would defend the rights of protesters “even when protesters say things that I hate.”
He and his partner were not at home at the time, having known about the “Stop the Muslim Takeover” rally organized by far-right activist Jake Lang more than a week in advance. More than 100 counterprotesters gathered nearby, the vast majority peaceful, claiming they were there to “drive the Nazis” out of New York.
“Although I found this protest appalling, I will not relent in my conviction that it should be allowed,” Mamdani said of the anti-Muslim demonstration. “I want to be clear about something else: New York City will never tolerate violence, whether from protests or counter-protests.”
Lang, who has announced an unlikely bid to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate, told reporters Saturday that he organized the rally because “New York was built by white Christian men” like him, and was “being destroyed by Muslims and socialists.”
He brought a goat on a leash to the demonstration and, along with other protesters, dragged a roast pig on a cart through the streets of Manhattan, intending to provoke Muslims.
The judicial process
Police said it was the first time an improvised bomb had been used in New York City in nearly a decade. In 2017, Akayed Ullah, who also cited the Islamic State as an inspiration, detonated a homemade bomb strapped to his body in a hallway near the Times Square subway station, injuring only himself.
Balat and Kayumi are charged with five federal crimes each, according to a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, including use of a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and three counts related to illegally possessing or transporting explosives.
Both men remained in federal custody following their initial court appearances Monday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, local media reported. Kayumi’s lawyer, Michael Arthus, declined to comment. Neither had a criminal record, according to police.
During their respective police interrogations, Balat asked for a piece of paper and wrote on it that he had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State, while Kayumi told police that he watched Islamic State videos on his phone, according to the criminal complaint.
Essmidi, Balat’s lawyer, claimed to have seen him in custody, but declined to reveal whether Balat explained his comments about ISIS. The defense requested preventive detention for him out of fear for his safety, according to the lawyer.
A third man, Ian McGinnis, was arrested and appeared in New York state court on Sunday, accused of spraying pepper spray or a similar chemical irritant into the faces of two of the counterprotesters opposing the anti-Islam rally, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office and police. McGinnis faces six charges, including third-degree assault.
New York police have been on alert since the United States and Israel attacked Iran, but said they have seen no evidence linking Saturday’s attack to the war.
