Two teens accused of plotting attack outside NYC Mayor’s residence 'plead not guilty'

Noman Sabit: Two teens accused of attempting to carry out an Islamic State-inspired attack outside Gracie Mansion last month pleaded not guilty to terrorism and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested outside the mayor’s residence during a far-right, anti-Muslim protest after police say the pair tried to ignite improvised explosive devices made of glass jars, nuts, bolts and a highly volatile substance called TATP.

After their arrest, both pledged their support for Islamic State, according to an indictment filed in federal court last week.

The case follows a growing trend of young people across the political spectrum being radicalized on the internet, according to the NYPD. A few weeks after the Gracie Mansion incident, a New Jersey man who officials say belongs to a Jewish extremist group was arrested after prosecutors accused him of plotting to attack a Palestinian activist with Molotov cocktails.

Balat and Kayumi appeared in court wearing tan jumpsuits, handcuffs and shackles around their waists. Kayumi’s relatives filled a whole row of the courtroom, looking on somberly throughout the brief proceeding. When a judge asked the teens how they pleaded, they both answered, “not guilty.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Chong said federal officials are working to compile a “voluminous” amount of discovery materials, including data from a dozen electronic devices and records of online purchases.

She said prosecutors plan to turn over as much evidence as possible in the next three weeks, with more to come as law enforcement obtains information from the devices and social media.

Balat’s defense attorney, Sabrina Shroff, asked the judge to ensure that the defendants will have access to a laptop or find another way to ensure they will be able to review the large collection of evidence in the Metropolitan Detention Center, the federal jail in Brooklyn where they are being held.

“I don’t have to tell you how much of a headache MDC is,” she said.

Shroff has represented terror suspects in the past and recently won an acquittal for a man in Washington, D.C. who was charged with assault for throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection Agent in a viral incident caught on camera.

The indictment includes excerpts from a conversation between Balat and Kayumi, who are both from Pennsylvania, during their drive to New York City. Balat estimated the explosives would kill about eight to 16 people, or as many as 60 if the area was crowded, according to a dash camera video recording investigators recovered.

“Just can’t wait for that bomb to go off and his [i.e., Individual-1’s] freaking head, his body to get split in half, bro, dead,” Balat said, likely referring to the leader of the anti-Muslim demonstration, Jake Lang, according to a portion of the conversation cited in the indictment. He said he wanted to target “the government” and “civilians” and also discussed plans to attack police, the indictment states.

Kayumi said he wanted “to petrify these people,” according to the indictment.

“All I know is I want to start terror, bro,” he allegedly said.

In the car Balat and Kayumi took to New York, investigators found a coil of fuse, heavy duty tape and a notebook that listed steps to carry out their plot, ingredients to make explosives, instructions for how to make and detonate a bomb, and a plan for another possible attack using a “reasonably fast” and “heavy in weight” vehicle, according to the indictment.

Investigators also searched a Pennsylvania storage unit that Balat rented, where prosecutors said they found bowls with TATP residue, a bottle labeled “12% hydrogen peroxide,” syringes, a digital scale, gloves, an open package of nuts and bolts, and glass jars. A note on the floor of the storage unit declared, “All praise is due to Allah!!!” according to the indictment.

As Balat and Kayumi walked out of the courtroom on Wednesday, Kayumi looked back at his family. One of his relatives sighed deeply and then began to cry, dropping into his seat and doubling over. Another dabbed her eyes with a tissue. The relatives then walked out of the courtroom and filed into an elevator without any comment.

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