Authorities are delving into three phone calls made from the home of Ibrahim Kayumi, one of the ISIS-inspired bombing attack suspects, following an incident in New York City on March 7. These calls were directed to 911 or other non-emergency lines from his family’s residence in suburban Philadelphia.
The timing of the calls is peculiar, with the first occurring at 4:15 p.m. on March 7, followed by another at 9:19 p.m. the same day, and the last at 8:54 p.m. on March 8, as reported by Fox News. What was discussed in these conversations, or why they were made, remains unclear.
This investigation has led to scrutiny around the potential involvement of Kayumi’s family, prompting further examination into the suspects’ connections. Although officials haven’t given specific comments regarding the calls, their timing could be significant in the larger investigation.
Details of the Attack
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were both living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, when they allegedly travelled to Manhattan to target a protest outside Gracie Mansion, home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The protest, led by right-wing activist Jake Lang, opposed the increasing influence of Islam in America amid counter-protests.
During the altercation, some counter-protesters confronted Lang. Reports indicate that Balat rushed in while shouting “Allahu Akbar,” and threw an explosive device toward Lang’s group. The improvised explosive device (IED) triggered smoke but failed to explode.
Balat then approached Kayumi, who handed him a second device that was thrown near a group of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers, which also did not detonate.
At the protest outside Gracie Mansion in NYC, a shocking moment was captured on video. In the exact second the incident unfolded, an Arab male can be seen running toward activist Jake Lang while yelling “Allahu Akbar,” holding what appears to be an explosive device before… pic.twitter.com/nyoKTYjEaZ
— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) March 7, 2026
Both individuals were detained by the NYPD at the scene. In an interview, Kayumi remarked that “ISIS” influenced their planned attack. Balat, during later questioning, confirmed his allegiance to the Islamic State group and admitted he had been inspired by watching ISIS propaganda on his phone.
He even displayed a hand signal associated with ISIS while being escorted from a court session. Federal prosecutors have charged both with attempting to offer material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction, with both held without bail following a court appearance on March 9.
Following the attack, raids conducted by state and federal officials on their residences yielded a third suspicious device in a vehicle linked to the suspects. Additionally, an FBI raid on a storage unit associated with them uncovered explosives and explosive residues, leading to controlled detonations.
