Two individuals linked to ISIS have been charged after allegedly throwing homemade bombs at a protest outside a mansion belonging to the mayor. Recent court documents reveal that Sheikh Barat, 18, and Ibrahim Qayumi, 19, had plans for an even more destructive attack that involved driving a large vehicle into a crowd.
Their notebooks, which were seized by the FBI, contained a disturbing list of potential targets such as “festivals,” “parades,” “protests,” and “celebrations.”
In one note, they outlined the characteristics of an “ideal vehicle” for their attack, describing it as “load-bearing,” “large in size,” “moderately fast,” and “heavy in weight.” The documents also indicate they discussed how to manufacture napalm, a highly flammable substance often used in explosives and flamethrowers.
Authorities found a notebook inside the car of the alleged terrorists, who had driven from Pennsylvania to the Upper East Side on March 7. According to the indictment, the pair was also recorded on their car’s dashcam plotting to kill at least 60 individuals and even had a backup plan to throw bombs into a café if their initial plan failed.
“All I know is that I want to start a terrorist attack,” Kayumi reportedly said during the dashcam recording. “I want to petrify these people.”
When they arrived at the protest, Barratt is accused of igniting a homemade bomb and throwing it into a crowd where a right-wing protestor was leading an anti-Muslim rally, surrounded by a significant number of counter-protesters and journalists.
After hurling the first bomb, Barratt fled and received another bomb from Qayumi, which he then dropped near several NYPD officers, according to court documents. Fortunately, the bomb did not detonate, and a quick-thinking police officer spotted it. He tackled Barratt, leading to both men’s arrest.
Past incidents involving ISIS supporters have shown a troubling pattern of using large vehicles in deadly attacks. One example is the case of Saifululo Saipov, who ran down pedestrians on a bike path in 2017, killing eight people.
Both Barat and Qayumi are facing severe charges related to terrorism, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which could lead to life sentences in prison.
Their legal representatives have not yet commented publicly.
