New York — Investigators are trying to learn more about two Pennsylvania men accused of bringing homemade bombs to a protest outside the New York City mayor’s home.
Amir Balat (18 years old) and Ibrahim Kiyomi (19 years old) told the authorities after their arrest that they were inspired by ISIS ideas, but much is still unknown about their motives and the extent of their planning.
The FBI said Monday it conducted multiple searches in connection with the investigation, including examining A Pennsylvania storage unit. Tests were conducted on some devices recovered from the accident scene.
Meanwhile, a court lawyer portrayed him as a confused teenager who didn’t know what to do.
Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Palat and Kiume, who lived in suburban Philadelphia, drove to New York City on Saturday and joined a crowd of counter-protesters at a small anti-Muslim rally organized by far-right Christian nationalist Jake Lange.
Journalists filmed Balat throwing a smoking device with a lit fuse, which later turned out to contain the explosive TATP. The object, which also contained nuts and bolts, went out on its own without harming anyone.
Balat then dropped a second object near some police officers and tried to run, but was tackled and arrested, according to the court complaint.
Balat and Kiyomi were being held without bail after appearing in court on Monday on charges including attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using weapons of mass destruction.
Balat’s lawyer, Mehdi Al-Asmidi, said outside court that his client, a high school senior, was experiencing “complex things going on” in his personal life.
“I think he’s 18 years old and has no idea what he’s doing,” Esmede said. He added that he did not think Balat and Kiyomi had known each other long.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there were no indications Monday that the attack was related to the ongoing attack War in Iran.
After Balat was arrested, police officers asked him if he was aiming to carry out something similar to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people.
“No, bigger,” Balat replied, according to a criminal complaint.