NEW YORK – The teens accused of bringing explosives to a protest outside Gracie Mansion have been charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, use of a weapon of mass destruction and related offenses in an unsealed federal complaint.
What we know:
Emir Balat, 18, is expected to appear in federal court at 2 p.m. today.
A press conference is expected to be held today to announce the unsealing of a federal complaint charging Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi with attempting to provide material support to ISIS and using a weapon of mass destruction in connection with explosive devices detonated near Gracie Mansion during a protest.
What are the charges?
Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are charged with attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Dig deeper:
Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are charged with attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
Explosive devices
The criminal complaint includes images of the two suspects and references video that allegedly shows them throwing two devices toward the protest area.
Federal prosecutors allege the pair attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices Saturday near the mayor’s Upper East Side residence during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion.
Authorities have said the case is being investigated as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.
The criminal complaint includes images of the two suspects and references video that allegedly shows them throwing two devices toward the protest area.
What they’re saying:
According to investigators, one device was ignited in a crosswalk at East End Avenue and East 87th Street and another was deployed on the west side of East End Avenue between East 86th and East 87th streets. No injuries were reported.
The backstory:
Preliminary testing by the NYPD bomb squad and FBI special agent bomb technicians determined the devices were improvised explosive devices, not smoke bombs or hoaxes. Officials said at least one device contained triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, a highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in attacks worldwide.
Officials said at least one device contained triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, a highly volatile homemade explosive that has been used in attacks worldwide.
Authorities also recovered a third device from a vehicle linked to the suspects parked nearby, according to law enforcement officials.
Officials have said the devices were capable of causing serious injury or death.
The criminal complaint includes images of the two suspects and references video that allegedly shows them throwing two devices toward the protest area.
Officials have said the devices were capable of causing serious injury or death.
Federal indictment
A news conference announcing the charges is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at NYPD headquarters. Scheduled speakers include Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York; James C. Barnacle Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office; and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
What’s next:
If convicted on the most serious charges, the defendants could face decades in federal prison.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Source: This report is based on federal court documents and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.