Residents and visitors near the mayoral residence will face increased security and scrutiny after explosives were hurled at protests. Officials referenced the episode during a news conference on March 9, 2026 ET at gracie mansion as two men were taken into custody.
Gracie Mansion security measures
Two men were held without bail following their arraignment Monday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Zohran Mamdani comments
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke outside the mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion, on Monday morning and said the suspects “traveled from Pennsylvania and attempted to bring violence to New York City. ” Mamdani and his wife were not home during the protest.
Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi details
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were identified in a court complaint that said the men described inspiration from the Islamic State extremist group. The complaint says Kayumi blurted out “ISIS” when arrested and that Balat later told authorities he had pledged allegiance to the group.
An automated license plate reader captured the suspects entering New York City from New Jersey less than an hour before the attack, the complaint said, and a search of their vehicle turned up a fuse, a metal can and a written list of chemical ingredients and components that could be used to build explosives.
Officers asked whether the suspects aimed for an attack like the Boston Marathon bombing; the complaint recounts Balat replying, “No, even bigger. ” Kayumi and Balat were taken into custody Saturday amid raucous counterprotests outside the mayoral mansion.
Legal representatives did not seek bail at the arraignment, though defense lawyers could pursue bail motions later. One defense lawyer requested that prosecutors avoid publicity that might prejudice jurors, and Balat’s lawyer noted his client was close to finishing high school.
If the defendants’ lawyers file for bail, a bail hearing would be the next event that could change custody and the security posture around the mayoral residence.
