UPDATED: 8:19 p.m., Sunday:
The FBI executed search warrants and detained residents at two separate homes – one in Middletown Township’s Langhorne section and the other in Newtown Township – Sunday evening as part of an investigation into incendiary devices in New York City.
The raids took place around 6:20 p.m. at residences on Tina Drive in Middletown Township and Clymer Street in Newtown Township.
Law enforcement sources said the searches are tied to the arrests of Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19.
An FBI spokesperson told reporters that while no formal charges had been filed as of Sunday. The men were detained in federal custody.
An NYPD spokesperson said they could not add any information outside of what has been released in statements.
Three people were detained at the Tina Drive home, where Balat’s family resides, while two people were led away from the Clymer Street residence of Kayumi’s family.
Tactical teams from the FBI led the activity at the homes and detained the residents of the dwellings.
FBI evidence response teams and bomb technicians entered both homes as the sun set and were expected to be on the scenes for hours.
Police said the activity was part of a “court-authorized search warrant” and stated there is no larger threat to the community.
The federal investigation stems from a Saturday afternoon confrontation during dueling protests near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohron Mamdani.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Balat ignited a device and threw it toward a group of people after an anti-Muslim protester deployed pepper spray. The device struck a barrier and extinguished in a crosswalk just feet from police officers.
According to Tisch, Balat then fled and obtained a second device from Kayumi before dropping it while running.
Both men were arrested shortly after by city officers at the scene.
The NYPD bomb squad recovered two devices and each was described as slightly smaller than a football.
Tisch said X-ray examinations shows jars wrapped in black tape and filled with nuts, bolts, and screws. The devices used a “hobby fuse” for ignition.
On Sunday, an NYPD official confirmed at least one of the items was an “improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.”
The second remains under investigation.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York are investigating potential ties to international terrorism, according to various reports.
NBC News reported that one of the men arrested referred to ISIS while speaking with law enforcement.
The incident happened during a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” rally led by Jake Lang, 30, a far-right influencer and Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Florida. Lang’s event drew approximately 20 people and was met by a counterprotest, called “Run the Nazis out of New York City,” of about 125 people.
The demonstrations took place during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, was inside Gracie Mansion with First Lady Rama Duwaji at the time, NBC 4 NY reported.
The New York Daily News reported a third “suspicious device” was located Sunday in a car connected to the suspects that was parked near the scene.
“The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are,” Mamdani said in a statement, adding that he appreciated officers’ brave actions.
In total, six people were arrested during the protests, according to the NYPD.
Joe Calvello, a spokesperson for the mayor, condemned Lang’s event as “despicable and Islamophobic” in a statement to ABC 7 in New York.
Middletown Township police closed Durham Road at Frosty Hollow Road as the raid took place. Durham Road reopened by 7 p.m.
UPDATED: 6:39 p.m., Sunday:
An FBI tactical team is raiding a home on Tina Drive in Middletown Township’s Langhorne section as part of the investigation in the devices.
Three people were detained and the tactical team surrounded the neighborhood as of 6:40 p.m.
Durham Road is closed at Frosty Hollow Road.
Police in New York City confirm that one of the devices was an “improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.” The second device remains under investigation.
The NYPD is working with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and FBI on the case.
Emir Balat, 18, of Middletown Township, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, have not been charged as of Sunday afternoon. Authorities corrected Kayumi’s last name, which was previously listed as Nikk.
Law enforcement sources confirmed Sunday afternoon that Kayumi has a recent address in Newtown Township.
Original Story:
A Middletown Township man was among two people nabbed Saturday after allegedly lighting and throwing a suspected homemade incendiary device.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were taken into custody by the New York City Police Department after a confrontation between opposing protest groups at East End Avenue and 88th Street.
Balat was identified by the New York Times as a Langhorne resident. Sources have confirmed to LevittownNow.com that he has a recent address in Middletown Township’s Langhorne section.
It was unclear if Balat and Kayumi, whose hometown was not released, had been charged. A request for information to the NYPD was not immediately returned.
Middletown Township Police Capt. Peter Feeney confirmed that local authorities were notified of the arrest.
“One of the suspects is believed to reside or at least did reside recently in Middletown,” Feeney said, adding that local authorities are prepared to assist New York or federal investigators if requested.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a Saturday evening press conference that the incident began around after noon near the mayor’s official residence, which is called Gracie Mansion.
According to Tisch, Balat ignited a device and threw it toward a group of protesters after an anti-Muslim protester sprayed pepper spray.
The device struck a barrier and extinguished in a crosswalk just feet from police officers, according to police.
Tisch said Balat then fled and obtained a second device from Kayumi before dropping it while running.
Both men were arrested shortly after by NYPD officers already at the scene.
The NYPD’s bomb squad recovered the two devices, which were each described as slightly smaller than a football.
The commissioner said preliminary X-ray examinations show jars wrapped in black tape and filled with nuts, bolts, and screws, using a “hobby fuse” for ignition.
“It is unknown at this time if the devices were capable of exploding or if they were hoaxes,” Tisch said.
The commissioner said further testing of the devices by city police is underway.
The incident happened during a scheduled demonstration that was led by Jake Lang, 30, a far-right provocateur and influencer. Lang is running for the U.S. Senate in Florida as a Republican.
Lang’s rally was titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” and brought together approximately 20 people.
Lang’s anti-Muslim event was met by a counterprotest of about 125 people and was called “Run the Nazis out of New York City.”
In total, six people were arrested during the protests, according to the NYPD.
The demonstrations took place during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. Mayor Zohron Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim leader.
Mamdani and his wife, First Lady Rama Duwaji, were at Gracie Mansion, the city’s official home of the mayor, at the time of the protests, NBC 4 NY reported.
Joe Calvello, a spokesperson for the mayor, condemned Lang’s protest as “despicable and Islamophobic” in a statement to ABC 7 New York.
Calvello said the mayor and first lady were safe after the incident.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between Central Bucks Now and LevittownNow. To read more stories like this, visit https://www.levittownnow.com.
