Authorities have charged two self-radicalized extremists after they allegedly threw an improvised explosive device during a violent protest outside Gracie Mansion — and investigators say the device contained a terrifying explosive commonly used by international terrorists.
According to law enforcement sources, the suspects — 19-year-old Ibraham Kayumi and 18-year-old Emir Balat — admitted after their arrest that they had been watching propaganda videos from Islamic State and built the homemade bomb themselves.
Yes, you read that right. While politicians and activists argue endlessly about “misinformation” online, these two apparently decided that actual ISIS propaganda was the content worth studying.
Investigators say the suspects hurled the device during a chaotic confrontation between demonstrators supporting right-wing activist Jake Lang and pro-Muslim counter-protesters gathered outside the mayor’s residence.
The explosive device was reportedly made from sports drink bottles filled with triacetone triperoxide (TATP) — a notoriously unstable compound terrorists have nicknamed the “Mother of Satan.” The nickname isn’t exactly subtle.
According to sources close to the case, the explosive is so volatile that it often detonates without even needing a fuse. Even more alarming, the ingredients required to produce it can be obtained from common household supplies purchased at pharmacies or home improvement stores.
In other words, the recipe is frighteningly simple — which is exactly why terrorist groups have used it repeatedly around the world.
The same type of explosive has been used in major attacks across France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and New Delhi, many of which resulted in deadly consequences.
Fortunately, the device thrown during the protest failed to detonate, preventing what could have easily turned into a mass-casualty event.
“This is just luck no one is dead,” one law enforcement source said, noting that the device appeared designed specifically to cause serious injuries or fatalities.
Authorities also revealed troubling travel histories connected to the suspects. Balat reportedly spent more than three months in Istanbul last year, while Kayumi traveled to Istanbul and Saudi Arabia in 2024. He had also previously visited Melbourne in 2019.
Those locations have long been watched by investigators as common transit points for individuals seeking contact with extremist networks or training hubs.
The incident occurred during a protest organized by Lang outside Gracie Mansion that quickly spiraled into clashes between opposing groups. Video footage shows multiple scuffles breaking out as tensions escalated.
By the end of the confrontation, six people had been arrested, including the two suspects accused of throwing the explosive device.
What makes the situation particularly chilling is how close the protest came to becoming a tragedy. A functioning “Mother of Satan” bomb thrown into a crowded demonstration could have produced devastating consequences.
Instead, thanks to a failure in the device and quick law enforcement response, the outcome was arrests rather than casualties — a reminder that vigilance and strong security remain critical when dealing with the very real threat of radical extremism.
