NEW YORK (AP) — Two men pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges they brought homemade bombs to an anti-Islam protest outside the New York City’s mayor’s home in a failed attempt at a terror attack inspired by the Islamic State group.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, entered the pleas during a brief appearance in federal court in Manhattan.
The two, who are both from the Philadelphia area, face charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.
Prosecutors say Balat and Kayumi drove from their home state to Manhattan in order to attack a March 7 anti-Islam demonstration in front of Gracie Mansion. The protest was hosted by Jake Lang, a far-right activist and critic of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim to hold the office.
Prosecutors say the pair threw two devices containing the explosive TATP and shrapnel, but the jar-sized bombs failed to detonate. No one was injured and the two were quickly detained. The mayor and his wife were not home at the time.
Balat and Kayumi later told police they were inspired by the Islamic State group, according to a federal complaint. The two were also recorded on their vehicle's dashcam describing their plan to kill as many as 60 people in a bid to “start terror," according to prosecutors.
Balat's lawyer declined to comment after the hearing. Kayumi's attorneys didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Their next court date is June 16.
FILE - From left, defense attorney Mehdi Essmidi, defendant Emir Balat, defense attorney Michael Arthus and defendant Ibrahim Kayumi wait for the start of arraignment proceedings in Manhattan federal court in New York, March, 9, 2026, on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction in New York after Balat and Kayumi were arrested for bringing and throwing explosives at a protest two days earlier. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, File)
FILE - Police detain Emir Balat after he attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device during a counterprotest against far right influencer Jake Lang staging an anti-Islam protest outside Gracie Mansion on March 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Julius Constantine Motal, File)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Sal Stewart hit a pair of three-run home runs for a career-high six RBIs, Eugenio Suarez and Elly De La Cruz also homered, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Francisco Giants 8-3 on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old Stewart has 12 career homers, the most by a Reds batter through his first 36 games since Aristedes Aquino hit 15 in 2018-19.
Stewart is the second-youngest Reds player with six RBIs in a game — behind De La Cruz, who drove in six on Aug. 23, 2003 at the age of 21.
Rookie Rhett Lowder (2-1) allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings for Cincinnati.
Former Red Tyler Mahle (0-3) started for San Francisco and allowed eight runs with five walks and four homers in four innings, raising his ERA from 4.30 to 7.23.
With two runners on in the first, Stewart hit his sixth home run to right-center. Three pitches later, Suarez reached the first row of seats in right to make it 4-0.
It was Suarez's 192nd homer as a Red, moving him past Brandon Phillips into 12th place on the franchise's career list. Suarez had three hits in a game for the first time since rejoining the Reds.
Daniel Susac's two-run double in the second inning cut the Giants' deficit to 4-2.
Following a pair of two-out walks by Mahle, Stewart launched his team-leading seventh homer to make the score 7-2. It was his first career multi-homer game.
De La Cruz made it 8-2 in the fourth with his sixth homer of the season, which sailed an estimated 442 feet to center.
Giants RHP Landen Roupp (2-1, 3.24 ERA) will face Reds RHP Chase Burns (1-1, 3.31) in the series finale on Thursday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds' Sal Stewart runs the bases after hitting a three-run homer during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds' Sal Stewart runs the bases after hitting a three-run homer during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
