The terrorist who opened fire in a Virginia classroom on Thursday had been released early from federal custody and later enrolled in classes at Old Dominion University, developments that may have been made possible by Democrat policies.
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/15/us/mohamed-bailor-jalloh-old-dominion">Mohamed Bailor Jalloh</a> was initially sentenced in 2017 to 11 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was released in December 2024 after completing a substance abuse program that could qualify inmates for reduced sentences under a provision of the 1994 crime bill signed by then-President Bill Clinton. A Trump administration policy change in 2025 later barred inmates convicted of terrorism-related crimes from qualifying for such early release.
Jalloh&#8217;s release came just eight years after he told investigators that he had considered a Fort Hood-style attack on American military personnel.
Less than two years after he was released, he walked into a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) classroom, shooting and killing a decorated service member and ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, before students subdued him.
Another law that may have cleared a path for Jalloh, <a href="https://www.progress-index.com/story/news/2021/06/03/virginia-governor-removes-criminal-record-checkbox-college-apps/7527473002/">signed in 2021</a> by then-Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA), bars colleges from asking prospective students about their criminal histories on applications — and may help explain how Jalloh, 36, was able to enroll in online classes at Old Dominion despite his 2016 guilty plea to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS).
Former Attorney General Jason Miyares drew attention to the issue with an <a href="https://x.com/JasonMiyaresVA/status/2033160143395836335">X post</a>, referencing what he called a &#8220;social justice&#8221; law signed by Northam.
The Common Application, which many Virginia universities use, removed its criminal history question by 2019, and Northam later signed legislation in 2021 prohibiting public universities from asking applicants about criminal records.
The U.S. Department of Education, under former President Joe Biden, urged the rest of the nation to move in the same direction as recently as 2023. A report titled &#8220;<a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/education-department-ban-box-incarcerated-students/649091/">Beyond the Box 2023</a>&#8221; advised universities to stop asking prospective students to provide their criminal histories, stating that there was not enough evidence to prove that previous crimes were indicative of on-campus behavior.
“The use of criminal justice information is very different from the traditional information reviewed in a college application,” the report stated. “Properly trained admissions staff are key to ensuring that a criminal record does not unfairly bias the admission decision and that formerly incarcerated applicants are treated with dignity.”
Jalloh was released from federal custody in December 2024, re‑enrolled at ODU in summer 2025, and was taking <a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/03/13/jalloh-was-student/">online classes</a> at the university at the time of the shooting. Authorities have not said whether he used a student ID to access the building where the shooting occurred.

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How Democrat Policies Helped The ODU Terrorist Pull Off His Attack

Democrats

Donald Trump

Islamists

Joe Biden

Politics

Ralph Northam

terrorist attack

Virginia

Just one day after voting against legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) called for the department to be funded while speaking about a terror attack on a Michigan synagogue. 
During a press conference on the attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Slotkin said Congress should fund DHS but exclude allocations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 
“We need to fund the Department of Homeland Security, and we need, in my view, to cut away all the conversation on ICE, which is its own conversation, from all the core missions of the Department of Homeland Security,” Slotkin said. 
Her remarks came one day after Slotkin joined all Senate Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) in <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00054.htm">blocking</a> legislation to fund DHS. 
When asked whether DHS was less prepared for terror attacks because of the partial shutdown, Slotkin said essential personnel were still working. 
“The department, because they are essential workers, they have been at work, certainly in Michigan, we have a ton of DHS folks, CBP, and so they are on the call and they are doing their jobs,” she said. “But they&#8217;re essential, they&#8217;re on the job, they&#8217;re working today.”
Slotkin made the comments alongside Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer during a press conference addressing Thursday&#8217;s terror attack. Authorities say Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed his truck into the synagogue and opened fire with a rifle before being shot and killed by synagogue security personnel. Ghazali was born in Lebanon and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016. 
DHS has faced a funding lapse since February 14 as Democrats and Republicans clash over ICE policy. Agencies under DHS include the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), FEMA, Customs and Border Protection, and the Coast Guard. 
Some analysts have warned that the shutdown is hampering the government’s counterterrorism efforts. 
“We’re dealing with a heightened threat environment right now, and we need the federal government security capabilities to be firing on all cylinders,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-dhs-shutdown-poses-grave-risk-as-terror-incidents-rock-american-communities-experts-warn">said</a> Nathan Sales, former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS.

Sens Kelly And Slotkin Brief Press After Grand Jury Fails To Indict Them For Video

Dem Calls For DHS Funding After Synagogue Terror Attack — But Rewind 24 Hours

Department of Homeland Security

Elissa Slotkin

Michigan

Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that heated political &#8220;rhetoric&#8221; was to blame for the terror attack on the Temple Israel synagogue, calling Thursday&#8217;s incident a clear act of antisemitism.
Whitmer’s comments come after a man rammed his truck into Temple Israel, the largest Reform Judaism congregation in the United States, and opened fire with a rifle. The suspect, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-synagogue-terrorist-ended-up-a-u-s-citizen-goes-back-to-obama-era?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=How+Synagogue+Terrorist+Ended+Up+A+U.S.+Citizen+Goes+Back+To+Obama+Era">identified</a> as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a Lebanese national who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016, was killed by synagogue security. 
“Yesterday&#8217;s attack was antisemitism. It was hate, plain and simple,” Whitmer said. “We will fight this ancient and rampant evil, we will stand together as we do it, and we will call it out. We must lower the rhetoric in the state and in this country, especially at this moment where we have seen such a rise in antisemitism and more attacks on the Jewish community.”
Whitmer said that the attacker was “fomented by rhetoric that they see online and that they see on television and they hear on the radio. It radicalizes people, and it endangers our fellow Michiganders. We cannot let this continue.”
She did not mention Ghazali by name and referred specific questions about the investigation to the FBI. 
“I am calling on anyone with a platform to be very responsible with their rhetoric, not to identify or target the Jewish community,” Whitmer said. “That is antisemitism writ large, and I don&#8217;t think that any of us should permit or allow that to stand. And that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m asking people to turn down the rhetoric.”
Ghazali was born in Lebanon in 1985 and entered the United States in 2011 on an immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, the Department of Homeland Security said. He applied for naturalization in October 2015 and became an American citizen in February 2016. 
Whitmer praised the synagogue&#8217;s security team, noting that the attack occurred while children were present.  
“I want to thank Temple Israel&#8217;s security personnel,” Whitmer said. “They were selfless in their courage, and they saved lives. These heroes threw themselves in harm&#8217;s way, engaging the suspect, and let&#8217;s be very clear, yes, this is a place of worship, but at the time that this attack occurred, it was a school, 104 children, aged 5 and younger.”
The FBI is continuing to investigate the attack.

Secretary Blinken And U.S. Governors Speak At The 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit In Maryland

Whitmer Points The Finger After Synagogue Terror Attack

Gretchen Whitmer

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Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah was identified as the instructor killed by the terrorist shooter who opened fire at Old Dominion University in Virginia on Thursday.
Shah was fatally shot by terrorist Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former National Guard soldier who was previously convicted of supporting ISIS, according to multiple reports. Jalloh, who is a naturalized American citizen from Sierra Leone, stormed a classroom and asked if it was an ROTC class, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/12/us-news/old-dominion-university-gunman-idd-as-former-national-guardsman-convicted-of-plotting-attack-to-support-islamic-state/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Post.
After someone confirmed that it was an ROTC course, Jalloh shot the professor several times, the news outlet reported.
Shah was a decorated military hero who served the United States in major war zones.
Shah enlisted in the Army in 2003 as an Aviation Operations Specialist and later obtained the rank of sergeant, <a href="https://www.odu.edu/armyrotc/about/cadre/professor-chair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the university. During his time enlisted, Shah served in the active-duty Army, Army Reserve, and Virginia Army National Guard.
He also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and a rotation to Atlantic Resolve.
Since his Old Dominion commissioning, Shah earned his Army Aviation Senior Aviator wings after flying more than 1,200 hours in three different aircraft and completing over 600 combat flight hours, according to the school.
Shah last served as the Brigade S3 in the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. Before that, he served as the Squadron S3 in the 3-17 Air Cavalry Squadron overseeing modernization efforts for attack helicopters.
The university described Shah as &#8220;an advocate for minority and veteran business education and involvement&#8221; who &#8220;holds a variety of accolades including combat heroism awards and diversity and inclusion honors.&#8221;
&#8220;Brandon also volunteers his time to support the less fortunate,&#8221; his university profile reads.
His awards include the Senior Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He also received the Bronze Star (2 awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Medal with Valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), and numerous campaign and unit awards.
Nearly a decade ago, Jalloh, 36, discussed plans to carry out a Fort Hood-style attack while communicating with a person he believed was an ISIS terrorist who was actually a government informant, <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/ex-national-guard-member-from-virginia-sentenced-to-11-years-for-terrorism-after-supporting-isis/35484/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NBC4 Washington. Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years behind bars for providing material support to a terrorist organization and an additional five years of supervised release.
He was released early in December 2024, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/12/us-news/old-dominion-university-gunman-idd-as-former-national-guardsman-convicted-of-plotting-attack-to-support-islamic-state/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Post.
Jalloh was killed by &#8220;a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him,&#8221; FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday.
Shah died at the hospital, the New York Post reported. Two others were wounded in the shooting. The injured victims were later identified as &#8220;Army personnel,&#8221; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said.
Hours before the university shooting, an attacker rammed a vehicle into a Michigan synagogue before opening fire on the building. No one was killed in the earlier attack.

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Decorated Military Hero ID’d As Victim Of Old Dominion Terrorist Attack

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The gunman who opened fire at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former National Guard soldier who was previously convicted of supporting ISIS, according to multiple reports.
Jalloh, 36, discussed plans to carry out a Fort Hood-style attack with a government informant he believed was an ISIS terrorist, <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/ex-national-guard-member-from-virginia-sentenced-to-11-years-for-terrorism-after-supporting-isis/35484/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NBC4 Washington. Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years behind bars and an additional five years of supervised release.
He was let out early in December 2024, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/12/us-news/old-dominion-university-gunman-idd-as-former-national-guardsman-convicted-of-plotting-attack-to-support-islamic-state/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Post.
Jalloh traveled to Africa with his father in 2015, where he met with an ISIS recruiter, according to NBC4. That same year, he went to Sierra Leone to stay with the group&#8217;s facilitator and planned to go to Libya to join the terrorist organization, but that never happened.
At one point, he ventured to Niger to join ISIS and even boarded a truck full of other terror recruits, but bailed out after 18 hours, according to NBC4.
Jalloh praised the gunman who killed five soldiers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July 2015, to the informant, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/former-army-national-guard-member-arrested-attempting-provide-material-support-isil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Department of Justice. He also sent $500 to a man he believed was an ISIS member, who was actually an undercover FBI agent.
He pleaded guilty in October 2015 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
Jalloh, who is a naturalized American citizen from Sierra Leone, stormed into a classroom on Thursday and asked if it was an ROTC course, according to the New York Post. When someone confirmed that it was, he opened fire, shooting the professor several times.
The professor, a retired military officer, died at the hospital, according to the news outlet. One of the students heroically stabbed Jalloh to death to stop him from harming others.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on X that one person is dead and two others were wounded in the shooting.
The shooter, he <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2032183663350214858">said</a>, &#8220;is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement.&#8221;
&#8220;The FBI is now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and providing all resources necessary in the investigation,&#8221; Patel said.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll <a href="https://x.com/SecArmy/status/2032170679404024043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the injured victims were &#8220;Army personnel.&#8221;
The shooting occurred hours before an attacker rammed a vehicle into a Michigan synagogue and opened fire on the building.

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Old Dominion University Gunman Identified As Ex-National Guardsman Turned ISIS Operative

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FBI Director Kash Patel credited brave students with saving many lives by stopping a gunman who carried out a suspected terror attack at Old Dominion University on Thursday.
“Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement,” Patel said in a social media post. 
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Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2032183663350214858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Patel said the students likely saved many lives.
“The FBI is now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and providing all resources necessary in the investigation,” he said. “In the meantime, please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU community.”
The gunman has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guardsman who was convicted in 2016 for conspiring to provide material support for ISIS. The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/12/us-news/hero-rotc-cadet-fatally-stabbed-crazed-old-dominion-gunman-to-prevent-more-carnage/">reported</a> that a student member of the Reserve Officers&#8217; Training Corps (ROTC) stopped the gunman with a knife. Two ROTC members were injured during the attack.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, the FBI spoke about the students who subdued and killed Jalloh.
&#8220;There were students that were in that room that subdued him and rendered him no longer alive,&#8221; said Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI&#8217;s Norfolk office. &#8220;They basically were able to terminate the threat.&#8221;
Evans also noted that Jalloh yelled &#8220;Allahu Akbar&#8221; during his attack.
“We are deeply saddened from the active shooter incident that occurred at Old Dominion University on March 12, 2026. We can confirm that two members of the university ROTC program were shot and were taken to a local hospital to treat their injuries,” U.S. Army Cadet Command said in a statement. 
Old Dominion Police Chief Garrett Shelton said that there were three victims in the shooting. Shelton confirmed two victims were transported to the hospital for medical treatment, and the third victim went on their own.
Patel confirmed early on Thursday that the FBI was on the scene and assisting police in investigating the attack. 
As a result of the attack, Old Dominion President Brian Hemphill cancelled all classes. 
“The safety of our campus community is my top priority. We are deeply committed to safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times,” he said. “We take this responsibility very seriously and remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain a safe campus. I extend my thoughts and prayers to those impacted.

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Heroic Students Rally To Stop Gunman Who Carried Out Terror Attack At Old Dominion

Heroic Students Stopped Gunman Carrying Out Terror Attack At Old Dominion

kash patel

CNN attempted to do a little damage control on Tuesday after a post coddling two New York City terror suspects — both of whom swore allegiance to the Islamic State after being taken into custody — drew fierce criticism.
The post, which was deleted on Tuesday amid the backlash, read, &#8220;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.&#8221;
The network was roundly mocked for characterizing the pair — one of whom said his goal had been to execute an attack more deadly than the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three in 2013 — as regular teenagers who&#8217;d just happened to pick Saturday to throw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into a crowd of civilians.
&#8220;Classic Pennsylvania teenager behavior: throwing IEDs and pledging allegiance to ISIS. Boys will be boys!&#8221; The Daily Wire&#8217;s Michael Knowles commented.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Classic Pennsylvania teenager behavior: throwing IEDs and pledging allegiance to ISIS. Boys will be boys! <a href="https://t.co/KfcMFBXdxK">pic.twitter.com/KfcMFBXdxK</a>
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaeljknowles/status/2031377450672795935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) <a href="https://x.com/SenEricSchmitt/status/2031344100318863724">added</a>, &#8220;CNN got this headline wrong. It should be: &#8216;Two radical Islamic terrorists came to NYC pledging allegiance to ISIS with bombs meant to kill Americans&#8217;&#8230;There. Fixed it for you.&#8221;
&#8220;What on Earth? CNN acts like they were sightseeing and accidentally found some bombs. NO. They bought chemicals, made the bombs and went to NYC to commit a terrorist attack,&#8221; another comment <a href="https://x.com/JimHansonDC/status/2031345695567835363">said</a>. &#8220;CNN is an unfunny version of the Onion designed to misinform.&#8221;
Another post from <a href="https://x.com/HonestReporting/status/2031321288912797744">@honestreporting</a> criticized the outlet for &#8220;infantilizing&#8221; the people who carry out violent crimes driven by ideology.
&#8220;Wow. ISIS-inspired perpetrators commit a literal terrorist act, and this is what CNN comes up with? Oh, those poor &#8216;Pennsylvania teenagers,&#8217; whose lives have &#8216;drastically changed&#8217; because they made the conscious decision to throw bombs. When will the media stop employing narrative storytelling to infantilize perpetrators of ideologically motivated crimes?&#8221;
After deleting the post, CNN attempted to explain it away with a follow-up: &#8220;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.&#8221;
Edits were also made to the story itself, which had initially included the same descriptions of the perpetrators. The accompanying <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/10/us/mamdani-gracie-mansion-protest-what-we-know">editor&#8217;s note</a> read, &#8220;A previous version of this story included a summary that does not reflect the gravity of the incident, thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It therefore has been changed.&#8221;
A post from Brian Stelter&#8217;s &#8220;Reliable Sources&#8221; newsletter conceded that the X post was problematic but claimed that &#8220;the story itself was solid&#8221; — but critics pointed out that the post had been lifted directly from the story.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This morning&#8217;s <a href="https://twitter.com/ReliableSources?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ReliableSources</a> newsletter has the context &gt;&gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/v9NLjgs75l">https://t.co/v9NLjgs75l</a> <a href="https://t.co/S5pR7kirMB">pic.twitter.com/S5pR7kirMB</a>
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/2031375202366418947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;&#8216;The story itself was solid. But the tweet was outrageous,'&#8221; Jerry Dunleavy <a href="https://x.com/JerryDunleavy/status/2031380748930863374">quoted</a>, adding, &#8220;The tweet in question ***was also the lede of the story*** before the article was stealth edited.&#8221;

Emir Balat, 18, is arrested after throwing an alleged

SEE IT: CNN Quietly Deletes Tone-Deaf Take On Suspected ISIS Terrorists

CNN Tries To Memory-Hole Post Coddling NYC Terror Suspects

Media

New York City

Additional explosives were reportedly found in a storage unit that was searched in connection with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-breaks-silence-after-nypd-confirms-bomb-was-used-in-terror-attempt">terror suspects</a> who threw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at a group of protesters outside New York City&#8217;s Gracie Mansion on Saturday.
FBI agents searched the storage unit in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, on Monday as part of the ongoing investigation, and local authorities shared information about what had been discovered in a Tuesday Facebook post.
<iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMTPD.org%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0aSkpisx5vPtV8fCf27HU1ojHLnJ9ZepC2TxoVeuCwoJrdsoBXK2EjPLhumcE7iabl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="275" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&#8220;Update Regarding Overnight Activity at Local Storage Facility,&#8221; the Middletown Township Police Department titled the post, adding, &#8220;Last night, residents in the area of the storage facility on S. Flowers Mill Road may have heard several loud bangs during the overnight hours.&#8221;
&#8220;As part of the ongoing federal investigation that took place yesterday, the FBI safely disposed of explosive materials that were recovered during the execution of search warrants. These controlled detonations were conducted by trained personnel and were carried out in a controlled manner,&#8221; the post continued. &#8220;While the noise may have been startling to some residents, there was no danger to the public at any time. The operation at the storage facility has now concluded and the location has returned to normal operations. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while federal authorities conducted this investigation.&#8221;
Middletown Township, a suburb that sits just northwest of Philadelphia, is located in Bucks County — the same general area from which bombing suspects Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, had come.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-opens-terror-probe-after-homemade-bombs-in-nyc-linked-to-isis">FBI&#8217;s Joint Terrorism Task Force</a> has taken over the investigation after both suspects pledged allegiance to and claimed they&#8217;d gotten their inspiration from the Islamic State. According to authorities, Balat also told law enforcement that he&#8217;d intended to inflict more damage than the Boston Marathon bombers, lamenting the fact that they had only killed three people.
The type of explosives used in the bombs recovered on the scene in New York City, Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), is favored in terrorist circles and has been nicknamed &#8220;Mother of Satan.&#8221; Reports have not indicated whether the explosives detonated by the FBI at the Pennsylvania storage unit were the same type.
New York City has been at the center of several scares in recent days, with law enforcement blocking off part of the Upper East Side on Sunday when a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-terror-scare-deepens-as-bomb-squad-races-to-new-threat-near-mayors-mansion">suspicious device</a> was found in a vehicle near where the suspects had first attacked.
On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2031057686675206571">announced</a> charges against Balat and Kayumi, whom she called &#8220;the two alleged ISIS-inspired terrorists,&#8221; adding, &#8220;We will not allow ISIS&#8217;s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation.&#8221;

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‘We Welcome Everyone,’ Liberal Comic Says — Then NYC Terror Suspect Throws Bomb Over His Head

terrorist

New York City police locked down part of Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday as the investigation into a terror scare near the mayor’s residence expanded after officers discovered another suspicious device.
The New York City Police Department <a href="https://x.com/NYPDnews/status/2030704917514510777">warned</a> residents to avoid East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street as officers responded to what authorities described as ongoing police activity.
Later, police confirmed the situation was connected to the investigation into an improvised explosive device used during unrest the previous day. “In connection with the ongoing investigation into the improvised explosive device deployed yesterday, the NYPD has identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street,” the department said in an advisory. Officers froze the area around the vehicle and began limited evacuations of nearby buildings while the bomb squad assessed the device.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In connection with the ongoing investigation into the improvised explosive device deployed yesterday, the NYPD has identified a suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street. NYPD officers have frozen the area around the vehicle and are… <a href="https://t.co/R9LAfVBNep">https://t.co/R9LAfVBNep</a>
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDnews/status/2030744968218718218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The discovery comes one day after a homemade explosive device was thrown during a clash between protesters and counter-protesters near Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side. The residence is home to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Authorities later confirmed that at least one of the devices used during the confrontation was a genuine improvised explosive device capable of causing “serious injury or death.” 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terror-scare-in-nyc-as-officers-run-toward-the-danger?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Arrests+Made+After+Homemade+Explosives+Cause+Terror+Scare+In+NYC">The incident unfolded Saturday</a> when two opposing demonstrations gathered near East End Avenue and East 87th Street. One protest, organized by activist Jake Lang, drew a small group of demonstrators opposing public Muslim prayer in the city. A significantly larger group of counterprotesters also assembled nearby, and tensions escalated between the two sides. 
Police said an 18-year-old counter-protester allegedly ignited and threw a device toward the protest area before it struck a barrier and extinguished itself near officers. Investigators said the device appeared to be a glass jar wrapped in tape and packed with metal shrapnel such as nuts and bolts along with a fuse. In a <a href="https://x.com/nypdpc/status/2030695186410463401?s=46&amp;t=y7gEF-WnDtE-q41HclK3lg">statement</a> Sunday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the device used Saturday, “is not a hoax device or a smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.” After speculation swirled online of the actual threat level posed.
Authorities also said the suspect attempted to deploy a second device before officers intervened, arresting two individuals in connection with the explosives. Additional arrests were made during the unrest, including one protester accused of using pepper spray. 
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has <a href="https://x.com/NewYorkFBI/status/2030483493474463992">joined</a> the investigation as authorities analyze the devices and determine whether additional suspects or explosives may be involved.
The suspicious device discovered Sunday inside a parked vehicle several blocks away prompted a renewed security response as investigators worked to determine whether it is connected to the devices used during Saturday’s confrontation.
Police have not yet announced whether the newly discovered device is functional, but the presence of the bomb squad and building evacuations underscores the seriousness of the situation as investigators continue sweeping the area.
Mamdani has not provided any statement or comment on the latest development in what seems to be a worrying trend. His <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-breaks-silence-after-nypd-confirms-bomb-was-used-in-terror-attempt?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Mamdani+Breaks+Silence+After+NYPD+Confirms+Bomb+Was+Used+In+Terror+Attempt">remarks</a> on Saturday’s incident split the blame between protesters and counter-protesters.
Officials have urged residents to avoid the neighborhood while the investigation continues. Streets in the surrounding area remain closed as authorities assess the device and work to secure the scene.

NYC Terror Scare Deepens As Bomb Squad Races To New Threat Near Mayor’s Mansion

Just one week after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned of the major threat posed by Islamists, major cities across the United States — and around the world — have altered and even canceled New Year&#8217;s celebrations due to security concerns.
In Chicago, state and local officials released a joint threat assessment just before Christmas, and warned that <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/new-years-eve-chicago-news-citys-nye-2025-celebration-is-attractive-target-foreign-domestic-extremists-report-says/18310758/">crowded celebrations</a> — such as the annual New Year&#8217;s Eve fireworks at Navy Pier — could be &#8220;attractive targets&#8221; for either domestic or foreign terrorists. They plan to go ahead with the events as planned, but will be increasing security in the area — and will be actively monitoring for potential attacks with drones or by using vehicles to ram crowds.
In <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/four-indicted-foiled-new-years-eve-terror-bombing-plot-targeting-southern-california-businesses">Los Angeles</a>, just over a week earlier, the FBI foiled a series of planned New Year&#8217;s attacks by the anti-government extremist group Turtle Island Liberation Front. Those attacks were supposed to target local businesses — and the group also planned to target Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the coming weeks. Members of the group had already begun the process of building and testing pipe bombs to be used in the holiday attacks when they were caught.
Audrey Carroll, one of those indicted in the Southern California case, had sent messages to other members saying things like, &#8220;I identify as a terrorist,&#8221; and, &#8220;I am a Hamas fangirl.&#8221;
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A <a href="https://abc7ny.com/post/lone-wolves-small-groups-most-persistent-security-threats-new-years-eve-times-square-report-says/18305122/">threat assessment</a> for the massive New Year&#8217;s Eve celebration held in Times Square, New York City, also raised red flags as officials said the largest concerns were potential &#8220;lone wolf&#8221; actors and small, organized groups. New York City is a symbolically &#8220;aspirational target&#8221; for would-be terrorists, the assessment stated, also noting the potential for &#8220;vehicle ramming attacks.&#8221;
&#8220;Lone offenders remain a particular concern due to their frequent ability to avoid detection until operational — al-Qa&#8217;ida and ISIS, and their supporters, continue to demonstrate an interest in targeting special events in the Homeland, as well as US officials and other perceived enemies,&#8221; the assessment read.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said that he would still feel comfortable allowing celebrations to go on if he were in charge, touting the capabilities of the New York Police Department: &#8220;If it were me in New York, I would go ahead, but that&#8217;s because I know I have the greatest police department in the world.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“If it were me in New York, I would go ahead, but that&#8217;s because I know I have the greatest police department in the world.”
— Former NYC Mayor <a href="https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RudyGiuliani</a> said New York City can still hold a safe New Year’s Eve celebration despite heightened terror threats<a href="https://twitter.com/RitaCosby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RitaCosby</a> <a href="https://t.co/AD7900BsQ3">pic.twitter.com/AD7900BsQ3</a>
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NEWSMAX/status/2004967129917870547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The threat assessments come as multiple <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/the-real-war-on-christmas">celebrations</a> and holiday events — from Christmas markets to New Year&#8217;s Eve concerts — have been noticeably changed or canceled altogether across Europe amid similar threats of Islamist attacks.
In Salzburg, Austria, the famous Christmas market has had a security overhaul — including security guards and dozens of cameras — and Paris has canceled the annual New Year&#8217;s Eve celebration on the Champs- Élysées.
It also comes as Gabbard recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-warns-that-islamist-ideology-is-freedoms-greatest-threat">laid out</a> the threat posed — in the United States and around the world — by Islamist ideology.
“It is a political ideology that seeks to create a global caliphate that governs us here in America,” she said, adding, “And if you fail to comply, if you fail to adhere to this ideology, if you dare to exercise your God-given right to free speech, censorship is not what we face. They will use violence or any means that they deem as necessary to silence us.”

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Major Cities Scuttle New Year’s Plans Amid Increased Islamist Terror Threats

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Thursday that his government would move to crack down on antisemitism and increase visa oversight following last weekend’s Bondi Beach terrorist attack targeting Jewish people observing Hanukkah.
The Australian government, which is led by Albanese&#8217;s leftist Labor Party, is set to adopt a plan that was first proposed in July to go after people spreading “hate, division, and radicalization,” The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/18/what-changes-are-planned-to-australias-hate-speech-laws-and-how-will-they-work-ntwnfb">reported</a>. The proposal would give Australia&#8217;s Department of Home Affairs more power &#8220;to cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division.&#8221;
The plan would also create a &#8220;new aggravated hate speech&#8221; charge for religious preachers and leaders who promote violence and would develop a list of organizations led by people who engage in violent rhetoric or promote racial hatred.
&#8220;Every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for the contribution that they make to our great nation,&#8221; Albanese <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgmneem1e89o">said</a> at a press conference. He added, &#8220;The terrorists, inspired by ISIS &#8230; sought to turn Australians against each other.&#8221;
Albanese has been criticized by many in Australia&#8217;s Jewish community for ignoring the rise in threats toward Jewish people since Hamas&#8217; terrorist attack on Israel more than two years ago. After Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, put forward a plan earlier this year to address antisemitism and “hate speech,” Albanese was accused of ignoring the proposal and failing to push back against antisemitism following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack. On Thursday, Albanese acknowledged that criticism from the Jewish community over his earlier inaction was valid.
&#8220;I accept my responsibility for the part in that as prime minister of Australia,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation and unite the nation. Because what people are looking for at this time isn&#8217;t more division.&#8221;
The Australian government&#8217;s proposal to crack down on &#8220;hate speech&#8221; has drawn opposition from critics who argue it would further encroach on free speech. In the wake of last weekend&#8217;s antisemitic mass shooting, Australian leaders have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/australias-leftist-leaders-call-for-tougher-gun-laws-after-antisemitic-massacre">renewed</a> calls for &#8220;tougher gun laws,&#8221; with Albanese <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bondi-beach-shooting-australia-announces-new-gun-buyback-plan/">announcing</a> another gun buyback plan on Friday to &#8220;get guns off our streets.&#8221;
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“If you’re not a farmer, you’re not involved in agriculture, why do you need these massive weapons that put the public in danger and make life dangerous and difficult for New South Wales Police?” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns asked.
The suspected gunmen who killed 15 people and wounded dozens more on Sydney&#8217;s popular Bondi Beach were inspired by ISIS, according to Australian authorities. Sajid and Naveed Akram, a father and son, are accused of targeting Jewish people. Naveed, who has been charged with terrorism, was on the Australian government&#8217;s radar over suspected ties to ISIS in 2019. Still, authorities at the time ultimately said there &#8220;was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.&#8221;
Sajid, who was killed by police in the shooting, moved to Australia from India in 1998, and his children were all born in Australia, according to police. Since moving to Australia 27 years ago, Sajid had traveled to India just six times, and his family in India <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyvxke3wgko">said</a> they had &#8220;no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities,&#8221; according to officials.

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