Two teenagers from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, were arrested and charged in federal court on March 14, 2026, for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State (ISIS) in connection with a plot to attack New York City. The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, are first-generation Americans who lived in the affluent suburbs north of Philadelphia.
According to an FBI criminal complaint, the pair are accused of planning an attack on landmarks in New York City, including the United Nations headquarters. The complaint alleges their activities were inspired by ISIS ideology. Federal authorities stated the plot was in its early stages and was disrupted by law enforcement before any attack could be carried out.
The suspects made their initial court appearances on March 14. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Justice Department's National Security Division.
