1 hour ago
4
One of 2 men accused of throwing improvised explosive devices astatine protesters Saturday extracurricular the New York City mayor's residence appears to person purchased fuses astatine a fireworks store successful a Philadelphia suburb past week, CBS News has learned.
Emir Balat, 18, purchased fuses astatine Phantom Fireworks,in Penndel, Pennsylvania, according to William Weimer, vice president and wide counsel for the Phantom Fireworks Company.
Surveillance video provided to CBS News shows Balat walking wrong and buying astatine Phantom Fireworks astatine 12:46 p.m. section clip connected March 2, 5 days earlier the incident.
Video from wrong the store shows Balat purchasing a 20-foot rotation of information fuse, which looks and feels similar heavy twine, for $6.89 including tax, according to Weimer.
Image from Phantom Fireworks information camera video appears to amusement Emir Balat purchasing a fuse astatine the store successful the Philadelphia country connected March 2, 2026.
Footage courtesy of Phantom Fireworks
"Coming successful and buying that was uneventful," Weimer told CBS News successful a telephone interview. "Had helium bought 20 rolls of fuse, it mightiness person raised eyebrows. But buying 1 oregon 2 items of thing successful this store is astir a non-event. Nothing singular astir the purchase."
The FBI, which is investigating the onslaught arsenic an enactment of imaginable terrorism, contacted the store's nationalist information manager connected Monday, Weimer said.
Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, some residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are accused of driving to New York City Saturday, wherever they took portion successful a counter-protest against an anti-Islam objection organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang adjacent Gracie Mansion, the authoritative residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Videos from the scene, verified by the CBS News Confirmed team, amusement a antheral identified arsenic Balat throwing what authorities described arsenic an "ignited device."
Prosecutors alleged successful a ailment that Balat said helium was inspired by ISIS and told constabulary helium wanted the onslaught to beryllium "even bigger" than the Boston Marathon bombing that killed 3 radical successful 2013.
According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the archetypal instrumentality thrown by Balat extinguished itself aft striking a obstruction successful a crosswalk, a fewer feet from constabulary officers.
Balat past ran distant and retrieved a 2nd instrumentality from Kayumi, lit the instrumentality and started moving with it earlier dropping the device, Tisch said.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the devices consisted of a sports-drink vessel filled oregon partially filled with explosive worldly acceptable wrong solid jars and surrounded by fragmentation, oregon nuts and bolts.
Kayumi is not seen successful the March 2 surveillance video astatine Phantom Fireworks.
The FBI did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from CBS News.
Balat's attorney, Mehdi Essmidi, did not instantly respond to a petition for comment, but extracurricular Balat and Kayumi's archetypal national tribunal quality Monday successful New York City, helium indicated helium planned to combat the charges against his client.
Balat and Kayumi were charged with 5 counts related to coercion and possession of explosive materials. A national indictment is forthcoming.
Kayumi's lawyer besides did not respond to CBS News' requests for comment.
In:
Video shows NYC fishy purchasing fuse
Video shows NYC panic fishy purchasing fuse allegedly utilized successful IED extracurricular Mamdani residence
(01:47)
English (US) ·