Teens Face Terror Charges After NYC Protest

0:00On March 9th, two teenagers from Pennsylvania face federal terrorism charges after allegedly throwing homemade explosive devices at an anti-Islam protest outside New York City mayor Zora and Mamdani's home on Saturday, 18-year-old Amir Balat, and 19-year-old Ibrahim Qayumi, each face five counts, including using a weapon of mass destruction and providing support to a foreign terrorist group. The devices, containing a volatile chemical explosive, failed to detonate and were safely neutralized by the New York police bomb squad. The incident happened during a tense demonstration by right-wing protesters on Manhattan's Upper East Side, while the mayor, the city's first Muslim. Leader and his family were away. Officials say Balat through the first device toward the crowd then got a second one from Qayumi before dropping in near officers and fleeing. Both suspects admitted involvement and expressed allegiance to the Islamic State Group. Police Commissioner Jessica Tish called the device's real threats capable of causing serious harm or death, not hoaxes.

1:04She confirmed the probe as ISIS inspired terrorism and noted the pair had no prior arrests. The mayor praised officers for quick action that prevented injuries and reaffirmed support for free protest, despite the bigotry on display. Investigators learned the suspects travel from Pennsylvania that day, arriving just an hour before their arrests. One had a Turkish ID and the other was reported missing by his mother earlier. Tish mentioned recent international travel by the duel, but gave no details, and both devices went to an FBI lab for testing. New York stays on high alert amid global tensions, though this case shows no overseas links. Authorities stress that swift response and vigilance stop potential disaster with arraigments set for Monday afternoon.