CNN deleted a social media post on Tuesday that glossed over a terrorist bomb attack by two ISIS-inspired teenagers who have been charged with committing an act of terrorism.
The two teenage protesters are accused of hurling homemade explosives at a rally Saturday outside the home of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The initial CNN social media post cast the two teens as potential victims and made no mention of the attack being inspired by the Islamic State terror group.
“Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could have been a normal day, enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather, but in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home. Here’s what we know so far,” the news network reported Saturday on social media.
CNN later deleted that post and replaced it with an editorial note that stated: “A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident, thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting,” adding that it has “therefore been deleted.”
One suspect said after his arrest that they intended to inflict more casualties than the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon terrorist bombing.
Charging documents for Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, said both men separately expressed that ISIS motivated them to fling an improvised explosive device toward a small crowd of protesters outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence.
“This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the Prophet. … We take action,” Mr. Balat allegedly said during his arrest, according to audio from the police body camera footage. “If I didn’t do it, someone else will come and do it.”
After being taken to a New York Police Department station, Mr. Balat waived his Miranda rights and wrote a pro-ISIS message on a piece of paper, according to charging documents.
“All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegience [sic] to the Islamic State,” Mr. Balat allegedly wrote.
The court filing said investigators asked Mr. Balat if he had hoped to accomplish something similar to the Boston Marathon bombing. He allegedly replied, “No, even bigger. It was only three deaths.”
Mr. Kayumi said he had participated in the attack because of ISIS, according to police body cam audio.
While law enforcement interrogated him, Mr. Kayumi waived his Miranda rights and told investigators he was affiliated with ISIS. He also said his role in the attack was inspired by the terrorist organization and that he watched propaganda videos on his phone, according to court documents.
