CNN's Abby Phillip forced to reverse course after false claim ISIS-inspired attempted bombing was an attack on Mamdani

CNN’s Abby Phillip has apologized after she claimed in a Tuesday night broadcast that the ISIS-inspired bombing attempt in New York City over the weekend was an "attempted terror attack" against Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Phillip said on Tuesday night that the attempted bombing was "an attempted terror attack against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani." 

The following morning, Phillip wrote, "I want to correct something I said last night. The bombs thrown in New York City over the weekend by ISIS inspired attackers was thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protestors and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. That wording was inaccurate and I didn’t catch it ahead of time. I apologize for the error." 

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, have been charged over the Saturday incident with attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.

Kayumi and Balat are alleged to have "attempted to detonate two apparent explosive devices in the vicinity of Gracie Mansion, in Manhattan, New York, during a protest and counter-protest in the area," per an unsealed federal complaint. Testing of one of the devices showed the explosive triacetone triperoxide, a highly volatile material known as Mother of Satan that has been used in multiple terror attacks over the last decade.

CNN came under fire on Tuesday for appearing to downplay the attack in a post to social media, which was later deleted and for which the outlet issued an apology. 

The initial post stated, "Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could've 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 outlet wrote in the aftermath, "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. It has therefore been deleted."