New York narrowly dodged a terrorist attack linked to the Islamic State when a bomb failed to detonate, officials revealed. The bomb, along with another homemade explosive, was discovered during the thwarted attack on Saturday. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch disclosed that the explosives were made using TATP, a potent and easily made explosive known as the “Mother of Satan,” previously used in attacks worldwide, including near the Red Fort in New Delhi last year.
The incident unfolded amidst heightened alert levels in New York and the US due to tensions surrounding the Iran war. Two suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Nikk Khayumi, were apprehended by the police. Balat was intercepted as he attempted to hurl the bomb, which emitted smoke from a lit fuse that failed to ignite the device fully. The two alleged terrorists had traveled from Pennsylvania to carry out the attack.
Federal prosecutors were anticipated to press charges against the suspects on Monday. The police seized the two explosives during the scuffle with Balat, who tried to breach a barricade at a protest. A third device was later removed from a nearby parked car by a police robot.
The attack occurred during a right-wing group’s demonstration named “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” near the Mayor’s residence, where a counterprotest was also taking place. Initial attempts by some Democratic Party officials to blame the anti-Islamisation group for the attack were unsuccessful. Police Commissioner Tisch labeled the incident as “ISIS-inspired terrorism” under joint city and federal investigation.
Had the explosives detonated, Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned of potential severe damage, emphasizing that they were designed to cause harm. Mayor Mamdani criticized the anti-Islamisation protesters, attributing significant blame to them. He condemned the protest as rooted in white supremacy but affirmed the right to peaceful assembly.
