Two teenagers arrested in March while carrying homemade explosives to an anti-Islam protest outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence openly discussed their violent intentions, including killing as many people as possible, court documents reveal.Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, both alleged Islamic State supporters, were taken into custody on March 7 after authorities said they ignited improvised explosive devices near Gracie Mansion during a gathering of protesters outside the mayor's home.According to an indictment unsealed Tuesday, the teens made little effort to conceal their goals. In recorded conversations, one remarked: "I want to start terror, bro." The pair calculated casualty figures and discussed the mechanics of their planned attack with casual detachment, the documents indicate.Balat, 18, is accused of igniting one device and hurling it toward the assembled crowd. Investigators recovered evidence of the explosives and documented the teenagers' communications leading up to the incident.The case marks a rare instance of alleged violent extremism involving minors caught at an operational stage. Authorities have focused on the defendants' ideological commitments and their progression from online radicalization to real-world action.Prosecutors have characterized the defendants as serious threats based on their planning documents, communications with extremist networks, and demonstrated willingness to carry explosives to a public gathering. The indictment suggests the plot was well beyond theoretical discussion.Both remain in custody pending trial. The charges carry significant federal penalties related to weapons violations and terrorism statutes.
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