dailyloe.com – Federal prosecutors allege two men plotted to bomb a protest outside New York City’s mayoral residence on March 7. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, are charged with attempting to detonate explosives at Gracie Mansion. The incident occurred during an anti-Islam demonstration, but the devices failed to detonate as intended.
An indictment unsealed Tuesday details the charges against the two U.S. citizens from Pennsylvania. Prosecutors say the pair wanted to kill up to 60 people in the name of the Islamic State group. They allegedly aimed for an attack larger than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Authorities recovered a notebook and three days of dashcam footage from the suspects’ vehicle. The notebook listed materials for assembling a homemade bomb, the indictment states. It also outlined alternative attack plans targeting festivals or parades.
The dashcam allegedly captured hours of the men discussing their plans. In one conversation, Balat said they were ‘gonna kill about 8 to 16 people.’ He suggested casualties could reach 30 to 60 if the area was crowded.
‘All I know is I want to start terror, bro,’ one suspect allegedly said on the recording. ‘I want to petrify these people.’ A third bomb was also found in the car used by the pair.
Both suspects have waived their constitutional right to a detention hearing. The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic terrorism inspired by foreign extremist ideologies. The investigation remains active as legal proceedings continue.[]
Source: BBC
