NYC bomb suspects planned attack worse than the Boston Marathon bombing: officials
Two men were charged Monday on suspicion of using weapons of mass destruction and supporting the Islamic State after throwing a bomb near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Gracie Mansion.
Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested Saturday night after authorities alleged they tried to detonate two explosive devices, according to The New York Times. One of the explosives reportedly tested positive for TATP, which is a highly volatile material that has been used in terrorist attacks over the last 10 years.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said that one of the suspects said they were apparently plotting an attack worse than the Boston Marathon bombing.
"They admitted to authorities that they had traveled to New York City to watch ISIS videos, and that their actions that day were partly inspired by ISIS,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters.
Rebecca Weiner, NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said the arrests were consistent with what authorities have seen, as “younger and younger individuals are radicalizing.” The attack was “very much in keeping with the trend we were seeing with ISIS inspired adherence,” she said.
The improvised explosive devices were detonated in isolation by officials, CNN reported. The materials were now under FBI investigation.
Oval Office stunned as Trump fires Pearl Harbor joke at Japanese PM
President Donald Trump made a shocking joke that left people in the Oval Office visibly uncomfortable on Thursday during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
A reporter asked Trump why he didn't tell U.S. allies, including European and Asian countries, such as Japan, that he was planning joint military strikes with Israel on Iran.
Trump's response shocked the room — and left some people nervously laughing.
"One thing, you don't want to signal too much when we go in," Trump said. "We went in very hard and we didn't tell anyone about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?"
