Mayor Zohran Mamdani finally decried the ISIS-inspired actions of two teenagers who tried to detonate bombs outside Gracie Mansion, calling it a “heinous act of terrorism” following the unsealing of their criminal charges.
“Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi have been charged with committing a heinous act of terrorism and proclaiming their allegiance to ISIS,” Hizzoner said in a statement — that stopped short of condemning radical Islam.
“They should be held fully accountable for their actions,” he said, adding, “We will continue to keep New Yorkers safe. We will not tolerate terrorism or violence in our city.”
Balat and Kayumi were charged in connection with homemade bombs thrown during a demonstration and counter-protest outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday.
Both men told the NYPD following the incident that they carried out the attack because of their allegiance to ISIS, according to the complaint.
Balat told a detective he hoped the death count would surpass the carnage from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the complaint says.
“No, even bigger. It was only three deaths,” he told a cop, according to the complaint.
Mamdani’s statement echoes his prepared remarks from earlier in the day, condemning the attempted bombing as an act of terror, but also railed against the planned protest by far-right agitators, hurling anti-Muslim statements.
The mayor earlier, though, made no mention of the pair being self-radicalized or Islamic extremists.
Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City.
