BREAKING: FBI discovers ‘explosive residue’ in Pennsylvania storage unit ‘believed to be connected’ to NYC bombing attempt

"Yesterday’s search of the storage unit believed to be connected to the Gracie Mansion incident revealed explosive residue. FBI Special Agent Bomb Technicians and the local bomb squads conducted a controlled detonation to ensure the safety of law enforcement and others in the area. We’re thankful for the assistance of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office and the local Middletown and Newton agencies who assisted our office throughout the night," the FBI said in a post to X.

https://twitter.com/NewYorkFBI/status/2031416590495817831?s=20

An official said that some of the local police had found and then detonated some of the components at the facility on Monday evening, per NBC News. Balat as well as Kayumi are facing federal charges in connection with the incident that took place on Saturday. Balat was seen on video throwing a makeshift IED at a crowd of protesters on Saturday morning in New York City near Gracie Mansion, but it did not detonate.

When police spoke to both Kayumi and Balat, they both said that their actions were related to their allegiance to ISIS, according to a complaint filed in court. They allegedly threw two devices, both of which did not explode. A third device was later found in the car that was connected to the two suspected terrorists.

"All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar!" Balat wrote on a piece of paper when he was arrested. He further stated, "This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet ... We take action!"

"Balat and Kayumi both made statements referring to ISIS. For example, as Kayumi was being placed inside an NYPD vehicle to be transported, an individual from the surrounding crowd yelled to Kayumi and asked, in substance and in part, why he had done this," the complaint stated.

The pair said that they wanted to have a worse outcome than the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured 260 in 2013, according to authorities.