FBI Hunts for Clues on NY Protest Bombs03/10 06:11

   

   NEW YORK (AP) -- Investigators are trying to learn more about two 
Pennsylvania men accused of bringing homemade bombs to a protest outside the 
home of New York City's mayor.

   Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, told authorities after their arrests 
that they were inspired by the Islamic State group, law enforcement officials 
said, but much remains undisclosed about their motives and how much they 
planned.

   The FBI said Monday that it had conducted multiple searches in connection 
with the investigation, including an examination of a Pennsylvania storage 
unit. Tests were being performed on some of the devices recovered at the scene.

   Balat's lawyer, meanwhile, portrayed him as a confused teenager who didn't 
know what he was doing.

   Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Balat and Kayumi, who lived in 
Philadelphia's suburbs, drove to New York City on Saturday and joined a throng 
of counter protesters at a small, anti-Muslim rally organized by the far-right 
Christian nationalist Jake Lang.

   Journalists photographed Balat hurling a device, smoking with a lit fuse, 
that was later found to contain the explosive TATP. The object, which also 
contained nuts and bolts, extinguished itself without harming anyone.

   Balat then dropped a second object near some police officers and tried to 
run, but was tackled and arrested, according to a court complaint.

   Balat and Kayumi 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.

   Balat's lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said outside court that his client, a high 
school senior, had "complicated stuff going on" in his personal life.

   "I believe he's 18 and he doesn't have any idea what he's doing," Essmidi 
said. He added that he didn't believe Balat and Kayumi had known each other 
long.

   New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there were no indications 
Monday that the attack was connected to the ongoing war in Iran.

   After Balat was arrested, police officers asked him whether he was aiming to 
accomplish something akin to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three 
people.

   "No, even bigger," Balat replied, according to a criminal complaint.