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After multiple homemade bombs were found following protests near Gracie Mansion over the weekend, the incidents are believed to be ISIS-inspired terrorism, officials said Monday.
Authorities said two of the bombs were IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device). One of the devices contained triacetone triperoxide or TATP.
“I can confirm this morning that this is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism. These are IEDs that could have caused serious injury or death,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press briefing on Monday.
Two men, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, are suspected of coming to New York City from Pennsylvania to commit a terrorist attack, police said. The men were allegedly inspired by ISIS and will be facing federal terrorism charges, authorities said.
The Islamic State may no longer control significant territory in the Middle East, but their message still carries sway online. Many of those who say they are inspired by the Islamic State carried out the attacks themselves and have been radicalized by reading and viewing online propaganda. They rarely have direct contact with the group.
It’s unclear if the two men arrested on Saturday in connection with the homemade bomb had any direct contact with members of the Islamic State. But, two officials familiar with the investigation said that one of the suspects told them after they were arrested that they had viewed ISIS videos online.
The incident occurred as an anti-Islam demonstration led by conservative influencer Jake Lang and a counterprotest were underway, police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters. An NYPD spokesperson said there were no injuries.
The Lang-led protest, called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” drew 20 participants, Tisch said. The counterprotest, “Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate,” drew 125 demonstrators at its peak, the commissioner said.
The protests started around 11 a.m., with both groups separated into designated areas by police, but tensions escalated shortly before noon, officials said.