NYC ISIS‑inspired bombers stored extra explosives after Operation

Two men accused of throwing homemade bombs at an anti‑Islam protest near New York City’s Gracie Mansion were discovered to have stored extra explosive devices in a Pennsylvania storage unit, and one of them bought fuse material just days after the U.S. military launched Operation Epic Fury [1].

Key takeaways

• FBI agents detonated three devices found in a Langhorne, Pennsylvania storage unit tied to the suspects [1].
• The suspects, Emir Balat (18) and Ibrahim Kayumi (19), are alleged to have pledged allegiance to ISIS [1].
• Balat purchased a 20‑foot roll of safety fuse on March 2, two days after Operation Epic Fury began [1].
• Operation Epic Fury is the name given by the U.S. Department of Defense to the joint U.S.–Israel strike campaign on Iran that started on March 1 [2].
• The timing of the fuse purchase suggests the bombers continued planning while the broader conflict unfolded [1][2].

Storage unit raid reveals additional devices

Federal investigators executed a search warrant at a Public Storage facility in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on March 9‑10, 2026. FBI bomb technicians and local squads conducted three controlled detonations after uncovering multiple improvised explosive devices linked to Balat and Kayumi [1]. Police have not disclosed how many extra devices were stored, only that the pair had “multiple explosive devices” in the unit. The raid followed the failed attack near Gracie Mansion, where the suspects threw two IEDs that failed to detonate [1].

Security footage captured Balat entering a fireworks store in a Philadelphia suburb on March 2 and purchasing a 20‑foot roll of safety fuse, a component used in the homemade bombs [1]. This purchase occurred just two days after the U.S. Department of Defense publicly identified its joint operation with Israel against Iran as “Operation Epic Fury” [2]. The timing indicates the bombers were still acquiring materials while the larger military campaign was underway.

Operation Epic Fury and its timeline

Operation Epic Fury was announced by the U.S. Department of Defense as part of a coordinated strike campaign with Israel targeting Iranian missile sites and other strategic locations [2]. The operation began on March 1, 2026, and was described by President Donald Trump as “massive and ongoing,” aiming to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and naval assets [2]. The strikes hit multiple sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities, prompting retaliatory missile launches toward Israel and U.S. bases in the region [2].

The FBI’s discovery of the fuse purchase on March 2 places the bombers’ procurement of bomb components squarely within the early days of Operation Epic Fury, linking domestic terrorism activity to the broader geopolitical conflict.

Why it matters

The find underscores how domestic extremist actors can exploit periods of heightened international conflict to advance their own violent plans. While the FBI’s controlled detonations neutralized the immediate threat, the existence of additional devices raises concerns about the potential for further attacks if similar materials are obtained. Law‑enforcement agencies will likely scrutinize supply chains for fireworks and fuse products, especially during times of elevated military activity. The overlap with Operation Epic Fury also highlights the need for coordinated intelligence sharing between federal, state, and local authorities to prevent terrorist plots that may be inspired by or timed with larger geopolitical events.