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BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. — One of two Pennsylvania men accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired terror attack in New York City allegedly bought a fireworks fuse at a suburban Pennsylvania store just days before allegedly hurling explosive devices at protesters outside Gracie Mansion.
Emir Balat, 18, of Langhorne, appears to have purchased a 20-foot roll of consumer safety fuse from Phantom Fireworks in Penndel March 2, according to the retailer and surveillance footage obtained by Digital.
The purchase was made two days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
Video appears to show Balat pulling into the store’s parking lot and walking inside. He briefly moves out of camera view before returning to the counter with the fuse, speaking with a retail associate and completing the $6.89 purchase in a checkout lane.
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Surveillance camera footage shows Emir Balat buying a fireworks fuse in Pennsylvania March 2. (Footage courtesy of Phantom Fireworks)
“The single item purchased was a 20-foot length of consumer fireworks safety fuse,” Phantom Fireworks Vice President and General Counsel William Weimer told Digital. “The total spend was $6.89 including tax.”
Five days later, Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi of Newtown allegedly threw live explosive devices into a protest outside the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The event, “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City: Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” drew about 20 participants.
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Surveillance camera footage shows Emir Balat buying a fireworks fuse in Pennsylvania March 2. (Footage courtesy of Phantom Fireworks)
A counterprotest, “Run the Nazis out of New York City: Stand Against Hate,” drew roughly 125 people at its peak.
Despite NYPD officers separating the groups into designated areas, tensions escalated shortly before noon, when a protester linked to Lang used pepper spray on counterprotesters, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers investigated for “a period of time” before making an arrest.
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Emir Balat flees after allegedly throwing a homemade explosive device toward police during a protest in front of Gracie Mansion in New York City Saturday. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
About 30 minutes later, Balat allegedly threw an “ignited device” that landed on the East 87th Street and East End Avenue crosswalk. Witnesses reported flames and smoke as it traveled through the air, struck a barrier and burned out feet from police officers.
Balat then allegedly ran south on East End Avenue, took a second device from Kayumi, lit it and fled before dropping it between East 86th and East 87th streets. Police took both men into custody.
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The defendants now face five federal charges — attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
Digital’s Alexandra Koch and Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
