Federal agents executed searches of Pennsylvania homes after a suspected third explosive was linked to the attack on right-wing protesters and NYPD officers in Manhattan.
Searches and evidence collected
The raids focused on properties in Langhorne and Newtown Townships in Bucks County where 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi live.
Investigators examined vehicles, electronics and other items for evidence of IED construction and transportation, and family members were interviewed, according to a report from ABC News.
NEW DETAILS: As Part Of Investigation, FBI Raids Homes In Middletown & Newtown https://t.co/nBZja66x5a pic.twitter.com/ylcox4nkQt
— Tom Sofield (@BuxMontNews) March 9, 2026
Discovery of the third device
A third suspicious device was found Sunday afternoon in a vehicle believed to be tied to one of the suspects and parked in Manhattan.
The NYPD bomb squad removed the device for testing, and preliminary assessments suggest it may contain triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a volatile homemade explosive similar to the initial devices, according to the New York Post.
What happened at the protest
The initial incident occurred around 11 a.m. near East End Avenue and East 87th Street by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence.
About 20 protesters organized by Jake Lang gathered outside to protest the spread of Islam and were confronted by a larger counter-protest.
The two groups clashed before the bomb-throwing incident produced four additional arrests.
About 30 minutes into the event, Balat ran up to the protesters and shouted “Allahu Albar” before throwing a device toward the crowd.
Smoke was seen coming from the device, which ultimately did not detonate.
Balat then ran to Kayumi, who handed him another device as police moved in, and that device landed just in front of a group of NYPD officers before both men were tackled.
NYPD Bomb Squad analysis confirmed the first device was an IED capable of causing serious injury or death and contained screws, nails and a homemade fuse.
The second device remains under testing.
Remarkably, no injuries were reported after the devices failed to 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
Investigation and charges
The suspects are U.S. citizens from Pennsylvania who investigators believe traveled to New York City specifically to carry out the attacks.
Travel records show Balat visited Istanbul in 2025 and Kayumi traveled to Istanbul and Saudi Arabia in 2024, and investigators are probing those trips while at least one suspect admitted being inspired by ISIS.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is leading the federal probe with the NYPD and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force due to the construction and alleged intent of the devices.
The investigation is ongoing as of this report.
