Men who brought explosives to NYC protest cited Islamic State as inspiration, complaint says

NEW YORK (AP) — Two men who broughtexplosivesto a far-right protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, according to a court complaint.

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were being held without bail after a court appearance Monday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. Their lawyers didn't argue for bail but could do so later.

The homemade devices,which did not explode,were hurled Saturday during raucous counterprotests against an anti-Islam demonstration led by Jake Lang, a far-right activist and critic of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office.

"Balat and Kayumi sought to incite fear and mass suffering through this alleged attempted terror attack in the backyard of an elected city official," James Barnacle, who runs the FBI's New York office, said at a news conference after the brief court session.

The defendants said nothing in court, but Kayumi smirked and looked over at Balat as the judge read part of the complaint alleging they acted in support of the Islamic State group. Balat stared ahead at the defense table.

According to the complaint, Kayumi blurted out, as he was being arrested Saturday, that "ISIS" was the reason for his conduct. Balat later told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the extremists, and Kayumi asserted that he was affiliated with the group, the complaint said.

Officers asked Balat whether he was aiming to accomplish something akin to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and wounded hundreds more.

"No, even bigger," Balat replied, according to the complaint.

Defense attorney highlights suspect's youth

Emir Balat's lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said outside court that his client is a Philadelphia-area high school senior with "complicated stuff going on" in his personal life. "There's a lot to figure out," the attorney added.

Asked whether he believed Balat was a terrorist, the lawyer said: "I believe he's 18 and he doesn't have any idea what he's doing."

Kayumi's lawyer, Michael Arthus, pointed in court to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and asked that prosecutors avoid saying anything that could prejudice potential jurors.

No one answered the door at a home listed as belonging to one of Kayumi's relatives in Newtown, Pennsylvania. At a home where neighbors said Balat lives in nearby Langhorne, a young man declined to comment when a reporter knocked on the door.

A spokesperson for Neshaminy High School, located in Langhorne, confirmed that Balat is in his senior year there. He has not attended in-person classes since enrolling in the district's virtual program this past September, according to a note sent to parents Monday by the district's superintendent.

Essmidi said he didn't believe the two young men had known each other for long. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said neither defendant had a criminal history.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on social media that authorities "will not allow ISIS's poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation."

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No ties to Iran war are identified

Tisch said there are no indications that the attack was connected to the ongoingwar in Iran.

An automated license plate reader captured the defendants entering New York City from New Jersey less than an hour before the noontime attack, according to the complaint. Kayumi's mother filed a missing person report, saying she last saw him around 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

The men's vehicle — registered to one of Balat's relatives — was discovered Sunday, a few blocks from where they were arrested. A search of the car turned up a fuse, a metal can, and a list of chemical ingredients and components that could be used to build explosives, the complaint said.

Lang's sparsely attended protest Saturday drew a far larger group of counterdemonstrators. Amid the faceoff, Balat tossed a jar-sized device that contained the explosive TATP into the crowd, the complaint said. The object also contained a fuse, plus an exterior layer of duct-taped nuts and bolts, the complaint said.

The device extinguished itself steps from police officers. According to the complaint, Balat then ran down the block and collected a second, similar device — which has yet to be tested for explosives — from Kayumi. Balat dropped it near some police officers and tried to run away, the complaint said. Police tackled Balat and soon arrested him and Kayumi.

"Violence that is meant to chill free speech, violence that is meant to keep us from assembling peaceably, will be met with swift justice," Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said at a news conference Monday.

Protester arrested on unrelated charges

The scene had grown chaotic even before the devices were thrown. Police said one person involved in the anti-Islam demonstration, Ian McGinnis, 21, was arrested after he pepper-sprayed counterprotesters.

McGinnis, of Philadelphia, was released without bond after pleading not guilty Sunday to assault and aggravated harassment in a New York court, records show. His attorney, Steven Metcalf, said Monday that McGinnis was defending himself from counterprotesters.

Three others were arrested but released without charge.

Lang, who's running for U.S. Senate in Florida, was charged with assaulting an officer and other offenses during theJan. 6 insurrectionat the U.S. Capitol. He was later freed from prison as part ofPresident Donald Trump's sweeping act of clemency.

While Mamdani spoke to reporters Monday morning at the mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion, Lang heckled from outside the gates.

This story has been corrected to reflect that police are now identifying one of the suspects by the name Ibrahim Kayumi, instead of Ibrahim Nikks. Earlier headlines were corrected to show Tisch referred to the possibility of the suspects being inspired by rather than related to the Islamic State group.

Associated Press writers Michael Catalini in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed.

byGreen Magazine

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1:42:00 PM

Men who brought explosives to NYC protest cited Islamic State as inspiration, complaint says

NEW YORK (AP) — Two men who broughtexplosivesto a far-right protest outside New York City's mayoral mansion said they...

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Signal and WhatsApp users face sweeping Russian phishing push, Dutch agencies warn

Russia is "engaged in a large-scale global attempt" to take over Signal and WhatsApp accounts,two Dutch intelligence agenciessaid Monday, adding to warnings issued by several groups about the security risk to the messaging apps.

According to the agencies, hackers are using phishing techniques to target high-profile individuals, posing as accounts with names like "Signal support" and securing details from users that would allow them account access.

Signal is believed to be one of the most secure messaging platforms available. It is a common battlefield messaging tool among theUkrainian militaryand last year it became the subject of aWhite House scandalwhen a group of top officials accidentally added a journalist to a group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.

Now, according to the Dutch report, Russian intelligence has launched a vast campaign to break into Signal and WhatsApp accounts,. The scheme has already compromised the messages of Dutch government employees, the report said, adding that it is "probable that targets include other persons of interest to the Russian government, such as journalists."

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

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The warning follows a similar one issued byGermany in February, saying that unidentified hackers were trying to phish high-profile Signal users in German military and politics.

Last year, Google said it had identifiedRussian actors trying to phish Signal accountsassociated with the Ukrainian military, and warned that the tactic would likely spread.

"We are aware of recent reports regarding targeted phishing attacks that have resulted in account takeovers of some Signal users, including government officials and journalists. We take this very seriously," the companypostedon social media, alongside an example phishing message.

Hackers havelong targeted WhatsApp, owned by Meta, which as of last year claimed to have more thanthree billion active monthly users. But Signal,operated by a nonprofit, is far less popular and uses a complex type of encryptiondesigned to be unbreakable, even by a theoretical advanced quantum computer.

While Signal verifies a new user's account by texting their phone number, the app deliberately does not show users' phone numbers to each other as a way to better protect their privacy. However, that can make a scam message seem more convincing, since a user who receives a message that comes from "Signal support" — not a real service Signal offers — can't check the phone number associated with the account to see if it's suspicious.

A WhatsApp spokesperson declined to comment but recommended users never share their login information with other people and recommended itsscam protection guide.

byGreen Magazine

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Signal and WhatsApp users face sweeping Russian phishing push, Dutch agencies warn

Russia is "engaged in a large-scale global attempt" to take over Signal and WhatsApp accounts,two Dutch intelli...

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World leaders eye oil reserves, but so far hold off on tapping them

NEW YORK (AP) — A widening war in Iran has halted oil tankers, made targets of refineries and spooked investors worried about the cascading impact of spiking energy prices.

Oil Prices

If it might seem like the ideal time to dip into the world's emergency oil stockpiles, global leaders have so far responded with reluctance.

Here is a look at the energy supplies that countries hold and when they tap them:

Many countries have reserves of oil

Since war erupted in the Middle East on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, the flow of oil tankers through theStrait of Hormuzhas all but stopped, cutting off a vital passageway for a huge amount of the world's oil.

That has sent prices of oil soaring.

Brent crude oil, the international standard,surged to nearly $120 a barrelMonday, about 65% higher than when the war started, before retreating toward $90.

Countries around the world hold vast quantities of oil that they can use in the event of a crisis, including the U.S., which holds a massive emergency supply — known as theStrategic Petroleum Reserve— in underground salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana.

Because oil is a global commodity and flooding the market with a sudden stream of new supply has international implications, countries often talk to one another before tapping reserves. That includes coordinating with the International Energy Agency, an organization created in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis.

But opting to use oil reserves is never a simple calculation, particularly when linked to a war with constantly shifting parameters and no clear timeline.

"The key question on drawing down these reserves remains one of, 'How long will this conflict last?'" says Tom Seng, an energy finance professor at Texas Christian University. "And, more importantly, 'How long with the Strait of Hormuz remain blocked?'"

Timing a release is tricky

Oil reserves have been tapped when the market has faced major disruption in the past, including wars in Iraq, Libya and, most recently,in Ukraine.

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Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, says it's not a matter of whether the current conflict is serious enough to merit intervention, but whether the precise moment has arrived.

"The price is up but it could get worse," Medlock says. "What happens if this drags on for two, three months? Then you run into a situation where you lose your buffer."

Each of the 32 member countries of the IEA promises to have a reserve at least equivalent to what they import in a 90-day period. The U.S. exports more than it imports, maintaining its reserve despite there being no requirement. But for other countries, tapping their reserves will result in them eventually needing to replenish what was taken.

"Because of that, countries tend to keep reserves for a last-resort scenario, should the disruption be prolonged," says Maksim Sonin, an energy executive who works with Stanford University's Hydrogen Initiative.

Discussions can cool markets

So far, leaders have been reticent to tap reserves.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed the idea of turning to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, saying supplies were ample and prices would soon fall.

Representatives from the Group of Seven major industrialized powers discussed the issue Monday, but likewise decided against using strategic reserves.

"We're not there yet," French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said after chairing the G7 meeting. Still, he told reporters in Brussels that the group was "ready to take necessary and coordinated steps in order to stabilize markets, such as strategic stockpiling."

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, took part in the meeting, noting afterwards the "significant and growing risks for the market." IEA member countries have more than 1.2 billion barrels of emergency oil on hand, the organization says.

Though leaders have so far held off from using their reserves, energy expert Brenda Shaffer says the fact that they are even discussing the option could ease markets.

"As long as the market keeps hearing about these possibilities," says Shaffer, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, "I think that will have a smoothing effect on the global oil market."

byGreen Magazine

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World leaders eye oil reserves, but so far hold off on tapping them

NEW YORK (AP) — A widening war in Iran has halted oil tankers, made targets of refineries and spooked investors worried a...

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Ex-Chargers pass rusher Odafe Oweh reportedly agrees to 4-year, $100 million deal with Commanders

Pass rusher Odafe Oweh has agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a 4-year, $100 million deal in free agency,NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

The contract comes with $68 million in guaranteed money, per the report.

With the deal, the Commanders add a much-needed upgrade to a defense that ranked last in the league in yards allowed and 28th in pass defense last season. Oweh, 27, is a high-end pass rusher in his prime, two seasons removed from posting a career-high 10 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.

The Commanders also reportedly agreed on Monday to a three-year, $24 million dealwith 28-year-old defensive tackle Tim Settle, who started 23 games for the Houston Texans over the course of the last two seasons.

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Commanders add much-needed pass rush help

Oweh joined the Chargers last season as a short-term rental to upgrade their pass rush via an in-season deal with the Ravens ahead of the trade deadline. He played 12 games with the Chargers after the trade, tallying 7.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, 28 combined tackles and 8 tackles for loss.

Prior to the trade, Oweh was struggling with the Ravens on the heels of his career season and failed to record a sack in his five 2025 games with Baltimore. Now, thanks to his strong finish with the Chargers, Oweh has a lucrative deal to play for a Commanders team in desperate need of help in the pass rush.

Oweh immediately slots in as Washington's top pass rusher. Von Miller led the Commanders with nine sacks last season at 36 years old. He was playing on a one-year contract and is now a free agent. No other Commanders player recorded more than 5.5 sacks last season.

Dorance Armstrong Jr. is Washington's returning leader in sacks after posting 5.5 in 2025. Jake Martin also recorded 5.5 sacks, but is a pending free agent.

Washington is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-12 campaign on the heels of advancing to the NFC championship game after the 2024 season. In addition to a return to health for quarterback Jayden Daniels, getting younger and better on defense is key to those hopes.

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Ex-Chargers pass rusher Odafe Oweh reportedly agrees to 4-year, $100 million deal with Commanders

Pass rusher Odafe Oweh has agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a 4-year, $100 million deal in free agenc...

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US 'rock star' Paralympic skier wins silver for his late twin brother

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Patrick Halgren, the self-proclaimed "rock star" of theMilan Cortina Paralympics, said he could feel the presence of his late twin brother in his silver medal-winning Para alpine ski run on Monday.

Milan Cortina Paralympics Alpine Skiing

"He made this happen for real. He is the ski god and he has blessed me with speed today," Halgren said of his brother Lucas Sven Halgren.

Lucas Sven died in a motorcycle accident in New Zealand in 2016, three years after Patrick nearly died and lost most of his left leg in another motorcycle accident.

Patrick has been plastering blue-and-yellow stickers that read "SvendIt" around Cortina d'Ampezzo, a play on "send-it," which is Patrick's mantra on life and a reference to his brother who went by Sven.

"He's the reason I'm here. I'm just a vessel to cram love and combat hate down your throats. He inspired me to live life, but life is fragile. You can die," Patrick said. "It's all for him. It's for my family. It's for the people that have struggled. He's dead. I'm here living, talking to you guys. I'm going to have who knows how many women and champagne after this. He liked that, too, but he doesn't get that, and I do. I recognize that."

Halgren celebrated in front of his parents, Peter and Kathy, which he said was "pretty cool."

"But also, it sucks not having Sven here, so ups and downs," the 33-year-old Halgren said after winning his first medal in his second Paralympics appearance.

"They went to Tijuana, Mexico, for their honeymoon 50 years ago. They picked up their dead kid in New Zealand, and they've watched me win the Paralympics at the most beautiful ski valley in the world," Halgren told the Olympics website. "This is a surreal moment for them. This is an experience that will create a memory lasting a lifetime and such a good moment."

Halgren said it was Sven who steered him to Para alpine skiing after the 2013 crash that nearly killed him and resulted in the above-the-knee amputation of his left leg.

"I died myself. I was in a coma for a month. I died four times," he said. "They used a defibrillator to start my heart. Blood transfusion. I get it, and I'm lucky that I have that because I know what it's like. Not many people do."

Now it's hard not to miss Halgren, and not only because of his long braids that are dyed red, white and blue. Always entertaining and joking with those around him, the outspoken American has taken on a showman personality at the Games.

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At the podium ceremony, he performed an air guitar solo using his crutch. He said it was just "another Monday" for him.

"I am a rock star," he added. "I always wanted to be this guy, Jim Brown, he was my idol. He was a professional football player, played lacrosse at Syracuse. I did both those sports, and he retired at the peak of his career and became basically the first Black action movie star. I always wanted to be him, and now I am him."

Halgren said he "learned to be un-irritable, un-embarrassable."

"It's about being vulnerable in this life. It's about trying things and failing. It's OK to be embarrassed. It's OK to look weird."

As he talked to the media, Halgren was congratulated by nearly every rival that passed by. He was second to Switzerland's Robin Cuche in the men's super-G standing.

"Medals don't mean anything to me. The love from all the people supporting me is what means anything to me," he said. "I can feel, I can literally feel all the people who have ever given me well wishes and 'Thanks' and 'Good lucks.' I can feel them loving me and they're the reason I won.

"You celebrate the victories the same as the defeats. I've been blessed to have to develop my character over the last 11 years, losing my leg and could either roll over and die, or I could become the greatest Patrick Halgren on Earth, and that's what you're seeing."

His future plans?

"I would like to dominate the Earth in every category with one leg."

Anything else? "My horse is thirsty, I'm out."

AP Winter Paralympics:https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

byGreen Magazine

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12:22:00 PM

US 'rock star' Paralympic skier wins silver for his late twin brother

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Patrick Halgren, the self-proclaimed "rock star" of theMilan Cortina Paraly...

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