More than 50 kids and teens are facing criminal charges after a massive opening-day brawl at Hersheypark, a Pennsylvania amusement park, that sent terrified families scrambling for cover and forced the shutdown of at least one ride.
The Derry Township Police Department <a href="https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/dauphin/derry-twp-pd/3742/post/investigation-conclusion-hersheypark-disorderly-patrons-investigation?fbclid=IwY2xjawSVuQ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesSrN6Ir82tVWOSvYygmoggH4H7GJWD0O2tt4D3z30F4Z0NjmsCa6GoVSvm0_aem_FtDvne_couThkT3bQVPKWA">announced</a> Monday that 55 people, ages 12 to 19, have been identified and charged in connection with the April 3 chaos. The group includes three adults and dozens of juveniles accused of offenses ranging from disorderly conduct and simple assault to aggravated assault, riot, conspiracy, and theft. 
According to witnesses, multiple fights erupted throughout the Pennsylvania amusement park, with some families shielding their children and taking cover under tables in the food court area as dozens of teens exchanged punches.
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<a href="https://t.co/IX9Hd7ClZE">https://t.co/IX9Hd7ClZE</a> <a href="https://t.co/2jUlIDVShm">pic.twitter.com/2jUlIDVShm</a>
— TruthWillCome2.0 (@SandyCee2400) <a href="https://x.com/SandyCee2400/status/2064104456266858671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Video circulating online appears to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DmS-dZB8uq0">show</a> another brawl breaking out near a roller coaster, forcing staffers to temporarily shut down the Skyrush ride.
“These actions caused serious inconvenience to Hersheypark staff and patrons of the park. This caused an emergency stop to the Skyrush ride,” officers said, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/10/us-news/55-kids-teens-charged-in-hersheypark-opening-day-brawl/?dicbo=v2-R9ssdP0">according</a> to the New York Post.
Police said the disturbance began around 6:50 p.m. near the Trailblazer roller coaster, where two groups were involved in a verbal altercation before the confrontation escalated into a larger melee. Police were dispatched to assist security in separating the fighting groups.
But the chaos didn&#8217;t end there.
Authorities said participants later moved to the food court area, where another fight broke out. Witnesses estimated that between 50 and 60 teens were involved. 
Some participants were escorted out of the park through a side gate, but police said they later returned to the main entrance, where another confrontation erupted around 7:30 p.m.
The investigation took around three months as police reviewed extensive video evidence gathered from witnesses, security footage, and social media posts.
Among those charged as adults were Omar Ibrahim, 19, Jerome Ross III, 18, and Quaneek Williams, 18. PennLive <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/06/giant-brawl-forced-hersheypark-to-stop-rollercoaster-as-parents-hid-under-tables-police.html">reported</a> that Ibrahim and Ross were charged in connection with the alleged theft of a one-day admittance wristband from a minor. Williams was charged with one felony and four misdemeanors. 
No arrests have been made as of Tuesday night. Preliminary hearings for the three adult defendants are scheduled for July 7. 
Hersheypark said the individuals involved were quickly removed from the property.
“There was an altercation between a group of teenagers in Hersheypark the evening of Friday, April 3,&#8221; the park said in a statement. &#8220;Police responded to assist Park security in swiftly addressing the situation and removing those involved from the Park. As safety is our top priority, Hersheypark has a zero tolerance policy for behavior of this type. Those who do not abide by our policy will no longer be welcome on our property.”
While Hersheypark does not currently enforce a chaperone policy for minors, the park implemented a new photo verification process for same-day re-entry following the opening-day disruption. 
Under the policy, guests who leave the park and later return must have their photo verified against an image taken during their initial exit.
“This process helps ensure that admission is used only by the original ticket holder for same-day re-entry,” a park spokesperson said.

Hershey Park Entertainment Complex

More Than 50 Youths Charged Over Massive Brawl At ‘The Sweetest Place On Earth’

Crime

Fight

Pennsylvania

Teenagers

U.S.

A leftist mounting a long-shot campaign against Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman was arrested after he called on his senator to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to the FBI. 
Raymond Chandler III was arrested Friday after law enforcement said he left several disturbing calls threatening the president. Chandler is also accused of leaving a message for the senator describing how he and his daughter would have their throats slit by a mob of people upset about their wealth. 
“They pull you out of your house and they slit your throat and they slit your daughter’s throat and they slit everyone’s throat,” Chandler said in a message to an unnamed member of Congress, according to an FBI affidavit. “That you know, sir, that is the future. It&#8217;s not a future I want, it&#8217;s not a future I&#8217;m advocating for, but wealth concentration has gotten so bad in this country.”
It&#8217;s unclear from the affidavit if Chandler left the messages for Fetterman or for Republican Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick. 
Chandler, who supports abolishing ICE and wants to go after billionaires, <a href="https://chandlerforsenate.com/my_values/">describes</a> himself as a Quaker-Buddhist who wants everyone to be treated with “empathy, kindness,” and respect. 
“The greed has gotten so bad. People are suffering so much, sir, that that is what is in our future,” he added in the call, according to the FBI. “You will not escape their wrath. We must redistribute the wealth away from people like you.”
He was charged with multiple counts related to threats against federal officials and their families. In another phone call, Chandler is accused of calling for his senator to assassinate President Donald Trump. 
“Sir, I’m calling this evening because what I want you to do is I want you to take a firearm. I want you to put it in your hand,” he allegedly said. “I want you to walk into the Oval Office. I want you to put that firearm to the President’s head, and I want you to pull the trigger and I want you to kill him.”
He said that Trump was “awful,” “a liar among all liars,” and the “antichrist.” 
“I want you to put it to his temple, and I want you to pull the trigger. That is what I want you to do as my agent,” Chandler said, according to the affidavit. “That’s what I want you to do as my elected official. That’s what I am petitioning you to do with my free speech. I want you to kill the President. I want you to assassinate the President. That’s what I want you to do.”
Chandler previously left messages advocating for “armed resistance” to ICE alongside his willingness to “go to war and to ‘personally kill,’” according to the FBI. A lawyer appointed to represent Chandler declined to comment. A hearing is set for May 8 to determine whether to keep Chandler in federal custody.
Trump has faced a number of major assassination attempts, including most recently at the White House Correspondents&#8217; Dinner when a gunman attempted to storm into the ballroom where he sat alongside other top government officials.

MixCollage-04-May-2026-07-36-AM-2026

Leftist Senate Candidate Arrested After Urging Senator To Do This To Trump

assassination

Donald Trump

John Fetterman

Anti-Trump “No Kings” Protests Held Across The US

The Quiet Suburban Shift Turning Safe Communities Into Radical Ground

ISIS

Upstream

A transgender-identifying man in Wiconisco Township, Pennsylvania, made a video complaining about being unable to afford “bottom surgery” in the United States.
Stephanie Fritsch, an election official who moved from Las Vegas to a small town in Pennsylvania after “transitioning,” was discovered ranting about not having sufficient funds to mutilate his body domestically. 
“I have tried for a very long time to get my bottom surgery,” Fritsch <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2046244642673336479">said</a> in a video surfaced by Libs of TikTok. “Unfortunately, it’s been out of my affordability level for a very long time.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Stephanie Fritsch is in charge of elections in Wiconisco Township, Pennsylvania.
He complains that he might have to travel to Thailand to chop off his d*ck because it’s too expensive in America
This elected official oversees elections… <a href="https://t.co/0O5ZG9kZMi">pic.twitter.com/0O5ZG9kZMi</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2046244642673336479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Bottom surgery generally refers to operations on the genitals intended to bring a person&#8217;s physical anatomy in line with their gender identity. He went on to say he’s disabled and on assistance, but still can’t afford the surgery he wants.
“I’m grateful to have Medicare, but at the end of the day, it’s not enough,” he went on. “&#8230;the bottom line is, it would be cheaper for me to go to Thailand or Canada to get my bottom surgery than in America.” 
Fritsch, who <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DXBkN6LDUvB/">describes</a> his political affiliation as &#8220;non partisan,&#8221; said he’s trying to “raise some money” to travel abroad for the surgery.
“It’s kind of hard to unpack the reality that I have to fly halfway around the world to get a medically necessary procedure instead of getting it done in America. Could you imagine having to go to get a procedure in another country?” Fritsch complained.
The video circulated widely online, prompting criticism from some commenters who questioned his role as an election official.
“This man obviously has some issues. Why has he been elected to oversee anything. He can’t even oversee his own mental health!” one person <a href="https://x.com/Donna0616579586/status/2046576440372781459">wrote</a>.
“There are so many things wrong with this. First, that he is ‘in charge of elections,’ much less anything. Then, calling this elective surgery a ‘medically necessary surgery.’ We have got to quit going along with these people and their mental illness,” another X commenter <a href="https://x.com/Gabriel44678059/status/2046342100719980814">agreed</a>.
“How does anyone vote for a person like this? Let alone a majority of people. This person needs mental help,” a third commenter <a href="https://x.com/Nameless0816/status/2046358747778539969">said</a>.
Fritsch previously <a href="https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/ahead-of-the-philadelphia-debate">told</a> Uncloseted Media that he has experienced hostility in his community, saying, “Being a public transgender woman, my life is in jeopardy all the time.”

Stephanie Fritsch

Trans Election Official Complains ‘Bottom Surgery’ Costs Too Much In U.S.

Election

LGBT

Transgender

A Pennsylvania couple has been charged with endangering the welfare of children after their 17-month-old child was injured near the wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica over the weekend. The zoo is a popular destination within the larger Hersheypark theme park.
The <a href="https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/dauphin/derry-twp-pd/3742/post/incident-zooamerica-april-4-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ_zTxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe8kebCDNRaWE4lMEIYUt8E76-XKPpsTSeDEqKFm1EzzCskHj32P83r0MybM8_aem_8dD6Bi2utx4i2_QgMHoB4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incident report</a> from the Derry Township Police Department states that the parents, who are from Lititz, Pennsylvania, are believed to have walked around 25 to 30 feet away from the child to sit on benches, and at that point, allegedly became distracted by their cellphones. The toddler slipped through a small opening in a wooden barrier perimeter fence and reached the metal fence surrounding the gray wolf enclosure.
“From the injuries sustained, it appears as though one of the wolves in the enclosure instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its mouth. Several bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away,” the police statement noted.
Court records show that both Carrie B. Sortor, 43, and Stephen J.B. Wilson, 61, are awaiting a preliminary hearing on April 28.
The zoo said in a statement that the wolf’s response “is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression.”
“Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times,” the statement continued. &#8220;The child was never inside the wolf’s enclosure, and we are relieved the injuries were minor.”
ZooAmerica currently houses three gray wolves, according to its <a href="https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/gray-wolf/">website</a>: a male wolf named Twister and two female sisters, Hazel and Freya.
Hersheypark <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgL3US1_0hI">made headlines</a> last year when video footage of a lost boy wandering along a non-operational monorail line went viral. The child was rescued by a heroic park visitor and sustained no injuries.

AggressiveWolf

Toddler Injured By Wolf At Zoo As Parents Scrolled Their Phones

Animals

Children

The Hershey Company has some sweet news for MAHA devotees: they’re going back to the basics.
The confectionery company made the announcement just weeks after making headlines for their ingredient list. Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, slammed the company for altering his family’s treasured recipe.
At the time, Hershey admitted to “recipe adjustments,” but insisted the taste remained the same. Now, they’re taking a different approach.
Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner made the announcement earlier this week during an <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-31/hershey-to-change-chocolate-in-some-disputed-reese-s-items?embedded-checkout=true">interview</a> with Bloomberg, confirming that the company will use “classic milk and dark chocolate recipes” in all Reese’s and Hershey’s items.
The shift to pure chocolate ingredients will affect less than 3% of Reese’s products and a “tiny sliver of Hershey’s products,” the outlet noted. Specifically, the product changes will impact mini Reese’s cups and shapes, Reese’s Fast Break, and some foil-wrapped Reese’s shapes.
The Pennsylvania-based company will also be &#8220;enhancing&#8221; their popular Kit Kat &#8220;for a creamier taste and texture.&#8221; The outlet noted that Hershey is &#8220;on track&#8221; to remove all artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027.
“Right when I started with the company, we did a deep dive across our portfolio,” Tanner said. “We’re going to make some small investments to really align the portfolio to what the brand stands for. That consistency is important across the brand.”
Reese <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/candy-civil-war-reeses-heir-calls-out-whats-being-put-in-americas-favorite-treat">went viral</a> on social media in February after posting about what he described as “compound coatings” and misguided cost-cutting measures.
“My grandfather, H. B. REESE (Who Invented REESE’S), built REESE’S on a simple, enduring architecture: Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter. Not a flavor idea. Not a marketing construct. A real, tangible product identity that consumers have trusted for a century,” the 70-year-old Florida native shared in a LinkedIn post.
“I can’t just let it go. They’re lowering the quality of ingredients, charging the same price and probably giving you a smaller product size,” Reese told the New York Post in a follow-up interview. “I’m really embarrassed as a member of the Reese family.”
According to Hershey&#8217;s website, traditional Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups include: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Lecithin, PGPR), Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, and TBHQ &amp; Citric Acid (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS).
Reese indicated that the spinoff versions of the classic candy are the culprits. This would include the Reese’s shapes, which are on the list of products to be made with “classic” recipes as of next year.

Reese’s chocolate

Hershey Melts Under Pressure, Gives In To Major Fan Demand

Business

chocolate

Food

General

A planned campus appearance by Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro at the University of Pennsylvania has become mired in what organizers describe as months of bureaucratic delays, opaque security demands, and shifting administrative hurdles that now threaten to derail the event entirely.
In an interview with The Daily Wire, Sara Carr, a vice president at the Adam Smith Society, said the group has spent months navigating what she described as an inconsistent and slow-moving approval process that varies by venue and lacks clear guidance. &#8220;It&#8217;s been like pulling teeth with this administration,&#8221; she said.
According to second-year Wharton MBA student Colin Duffy, who serves as president of the university’s Adam Smith Society chapter, the talk is scheduled for April 14 at the Penn Museum. Duffy told <a href="https://www.thedp.com/article/2026/03/penn-adam-smith-society-hosting-ben-shapiro-april">The Daily Pennsylvanian</a> that Shapiro and his team are “fully confirmed.”
A University Life spokesperson said the approval process had been complicated by changes to the scope of the event.
“The Adam Smith Society has been working with University Life, DPS, and the MBA Office of Student Life as part of the University’s established process for planning campus events and obtaining contract signatures,” the spokesperson said. “The scope of the proposed event has changed several times, each of which requires a new review to ensure appropriate planning and resource allocation.”
“At this time, the group has not completed the required steps to obtain a cost estimate and move the event forward,” the statement continued.
Duffy disputed that characterization, saying the group has been working with the university since the fall and accused the university of putting up &#8220;roadblocks&#8221; in the process.
“The contract has been ready on our end for some time,” Duffy said, adding that organizers have concerns about what they describe as unclear and potentially &#8220;uncapped, vague&#8221; security costs. He said the group would &#8220;not agree&#8221; to such terms.
Carr said the group requested comparable cost estimates for similar events but did not receive them from the university&#8217;s public safety officials. 
Organizers say the process has dragged on for months longer than organizers initially anticipated. “It’s been a slog the whole way through,” she said. “From August to December, we didn’t appreciate the level of restrictions” the group would ultimately face.
According to Duffy, the event, co-hosted with Young America’s Foundation, would feature a speech by Shapiro followed by a question-and-answer session focused on the ideas promoted by the Adam Smith Society, which aims to foster debate on the moral, social, and economic benefits of capitalism.
Duffy said organizers initially planned to open the event to the public but agreed to limit attendance to members of the Penn community.
“We intended to open the event to the public to advance Penn’s mission of open inquiry and intellectual diversity while reinforcing Penn’s stated commitment to combating antisemitism by hosting a prominent Jewish public intellectual in an academic setting,” Duffy said.
Carr indicated that time constraints could ultimately determine whether the event moves forward at all. “The viability of the event is almost entirely dictated by time,” she said, suggesting delays, rather than security costs, may be the primary obstacle.
University officials have not indicated whether Shapiro&#8217;s speech will move forward as planned.
The Daily Wire reached out to the offices of Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Dave McCormick (R-PA), and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) for comment but did not receive responses.

BenYAF

‘It’s Been Like Pulling Teeth’: Ben Shapiro Speech At UPenn In Limbo

Ben Shapiro

An infamous Pennsylvania abortionist convicted of murder for killing babies born alive during illegal late-term procedures has died while serving multiple life sentences in prison, state officials said Monday. 
Kermit Gosnell, 85, died March 1 after being transported from the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon to a hospital. He had been serving multiple life sentences following his 2013 conviction on three counts of first-degree murder. His West Philadelphia abortion facility was dubbed the “House of Horrors.” 
The Gosnell case drew national attention after pro-life advocates highlighted the brutal nature of his abortion practice. Many of the gruesome details came out during his 2013 trial and through a grand jury <a href="https://cdn.cnsnews.com/documents/Gosnell%2C%20Grand%20Jury%20Report.pdf">report</a>. 
“This case is about a doctor who killed babies and endangered women,&#8221; the Pennsylvania grand jury report said. &#8220;He regularly and illegally delivered live, viable babies in the third trimester of pregnancy – and then murdered these newborns by severing their spinal cords with scissors.” 
Testimony during the trial described the practice in detail. Steven Massof, one of Gosnell&#8217;s former employees, explained the process. “We call it a transection, but it’s literally a beheading,” he testified. 
Massof estimated that around 100 babies had their spinal cords snipped. He said he “felt like a fireman in hell. I couldn’t put out all the fires. … I would run around with scissors.”
The grand jury report documented one case involving a 17-year-old whose baby was delivered at around 30 weeks. According to the report, the infant was &#8220;breathing and moving&#8221; before being killed.
“He was breathing and moving when Dr. Gosnell severed his spine and put the body in a plastic shoebox for disposal. The doctor joked that this baby was so big he could ‘walk me to the bus stop,’” it said. 
Gosnell denied that any infants were born alive, claiming that movements observed by staff were involuntary.
During the trial, jury members were shown pictures of unborn babies who had been killed by Gosnell, showing how their skulls had been crushed and spinal cords cut. 
Other workers stated that Gosnell stored baby parts in jars in a refrigerator and routinely did abortions past 24 weeks of gestation. “The bigger the baby, the more he charged,” the grand jury report stated. 
The investigation further found that Gosnell&#8217;s clinic operated in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. The grand jury described blood-stained furniture, improperly sterilized instruments, and the storage of fetal remains throughout the facility.
“It was a baby charnel house,” the grand jury said.
Gosnell was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a woman who died in his facility during an abortion. 
Additionally, he <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/philadelphia-doctor-pleads-guilty-running-pill-mill">pled guilty</a> to federal charges related to running a pill mill out of his facility and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including oxycodone, alprazolam, and codeine.

MixCollage-24-Mar-2026-07-35-AM-9251

Infamous Abortionist Who Ran ‘House Of Horrors’ Dies In Prison At 85

Abortion

Murder

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is used to running the state — but now his neighbors say he’s been running their backyard too.
A bitter property fight between the governor and the couple next door has exploded into a federal lawsuit, with Jeremy and Simone Mock accusing Shapiro and his wife, Lori, of trespassing on a slice of their land and trying to claim it for themselves.
At the center of the dispute is roughly 2,900 square feet of property between the two homes in the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown. The Mocks say the strip belongs to them. The governor’s family says otherwise.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the fight began after security concerns intensified around Shapiro’s homes. In April 2025, an arsonist hurled a Molotov cocktail into the governor&#8217;s mansion in Harrisburg while Shapiro and his family were inside celebrating Passover. The attack prompted officials to review security at the governor’s other home as well.
As part of those discussions, the Shapiros wanted to build an eight-foot security fence near the edge of their property in Jenkintown.
The situation also carries a dose of political irony. Shapiro previously criticized former President Donald Trump’s border wall and other immigration policies. Now the Democratic governor finds himself in a legal fight tied to building a fence around his own home.
That’s when surveyors discovered something surprising: a piece of land the Shapiros had long treated as part of their yard was actually deeded to the Mocks.
Court filings say the governor first tried to buy the land from his neighbors so the security project could move forward. When the two sides couldn’t agree on a price, the Mocks say they offered another option — leasing the strip instead.
But the lawsuit claims negotiations soon broke down.
The Mocks allege the Shapiros began acting as though the land already belonged to them, planting trees on the disputed strip and asserting control over the area. The complaint also claims that the Pennsylvania State Police began patrolling the property as part of a security zone connected to the governor’s protection detail.
When the Mocks attempted to access the land, officers allegedly told them the area was considered “disputed” and ordered them to leave.
The neighbors say the situation forced them to halt construction of their own fence and prevented contractors from entering the area.
The Shapiros strongly dispute the allegations and have filed their own legal action.
Their argument relies on Pennsylvania’s adverse possession law, which allows someone to claim ownership of land if they have openly used and maintained it for 21 continuous years without the legal owner objecting.
According to their filing, the Shapiros say they’ve treated the fence line as the real property boundary since they purchased their home in 2003, mowing and maintaining the area for decades.
The Mocks call the situation something else entirely — an “outrageous abuse of power.”
In the end, it’s the kind of neighbor property fight many homeowners have seen before — just with a governor on one side of the fence.
<iframe loading="lazy" class="scribd_iframe_embed" tabindex="0" title="Shapiro Lawsuit" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/1011011344/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-WnUh2hP4VmNYyj1PAhet" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.7729220222793488"></iframe>
<a style="color: #098642; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Shapiro Lawsuit on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1011011344/Shapiro-Lawsuit#from_embed"> Shapiro Lawsuit </a> by <a style="color: #098642; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Leif Le Mahieu's profile on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/user/646035392/Leif-Le-Mahieu#from_embed"> Leif Le Mahieu </a>

Home improvement Josh Shapiro

The Backyard Battle Between Dem Governor And Couple Next Door

Josh Shapiro

Politics

One of the suspects accused of throwing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at protesters outside the New York City mayor’s residence purchased materials used in the attack just days beforehand at a Pennsylvania fireworks store, according to a report.
Emir Balat, 18, allegedly bought a roll of safety fuse at a Phantom Fireworks store in Penndel, Pennsylvania, on March 2, five days before the incident near Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to surveillance video obtained by CBS News.
The footage reportedly shows Balat entering the store at 12:46 p.m. and purchasing a 20-foot roll of safety fuse for $6.89.
“Coming in and buying that was uneventful,” Phantom Fireworks Vice President and General Counsel William Weimer told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/video-appears-to-show-gracie-mansion-bomb-suspect-purchasing-fuse-pennsylvania-fireworks-store/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&amp;linkId=917775073">CBS News</a>. “Had he bought 20 rolls of fuse, it might have raised eyebrows. But buying one or two items of anything in this store is almost a nonevent.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Emir Balat, the 18-year-old Muslim from Pennsylvania charged with terrorism for throwing two homemade bombs into a anti-Muslim crowd near Gracie Mansion on Saturday, reportedly bought the fuse used in the devices at Phantom Fireworks in Penndel, a Philadelphia suburb, on March 2.… <a href="https://t.co/EHBslRqvyz">pic.twitter.com/EHBslRqvyz</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/2031507163395621015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The FBI is investigating the attack as a potential act of terrorism. In a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-isis-supporters-charged-attempting-detonate-explosive-devices-during-protests-outside">statement</a> on Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The defendants allegedly support ISIS and tried to follow the path of that deadly group by attempting to detonate explosive devices in a crowd. The FBI and our partners have no tolerance for terrorist organizations or those inspired by them to engage in attacks. We are committed to stopping acts of violence and will hold accountable those who seek to harm our citizens.”
The FBI contacted the company’s national security director on Monday, Weimer said.
Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are accused of traveling to New York City on Saturday to participate in a counter-protest against an anti-Islam demonstration organized by influencer Jake Lang.
Video from the scene shows Balat throwing an ignited device toward police near the mayor’s residence. It has since been identified as an IED.
According to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/explosives-protest-mamdani-434928cf6fa8771bc3dfa5c260ee7b03">Associated Press</a>, the first device struck a barrier and extinguished itself near officers. Balat allegedly ran away, retrieved a second device from Kayumi, lit it, and began running with it before dropping it.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News the devices consisted of sports-drink bottles containing explosive material placed inside glass jars and packed with fragmentation such as nuts and bolts.
The investigation has expanded beyond the initial attack, with law enforcement probing whether additional explosive materials were staged near the scene.
A day after the attempted bombing outside Gracie Mansion, the New York City Police Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-terror-scare-deepens-as-bomb-squad-races-to-new-threat-near-mayors-mansion?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=NYC+Terror+Scare+Deepens+As+Bomb+Squad+Races+To+New+Threat+Near+Mayor’s+Mansion">shut down nearby streets</a> after officers discovered another suspicious device inside a parked vehicle on East End Avenue, only blocks from the mayor’s residence.
Officials later determined the device did not pose an immediate threat, but investigators said the discovery underscored the seriousness of the incident and the possibility that additional materials tied to the suspects could still be uncovered.
Authorities have also uncovered additional evidence linked to the two suspects in Pennsylvania. During searches connected to the case, investigators located <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-explosives-found-in-storage-unit-linked-to-nyc-terror-suspects?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=More+Explosives+Found+In+Storage+Unit+Linked+To+NYC+Terror+Suspects">explosive residue in a storage unit</a> tied to the suspects and conducted controlled detonations as part of the investigation, according to federal officials.
Prosecutors said Balat later told police he was inspired by ISIS and wanted the attack to be “even bigger” than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. Balat and Kayumi have been charged with five counts related to terrorism and possession of explosive materials. Federal prosecutors say an indictment is expected.

WATCH: Video Shows NYC Terror Suspect Buying Explosive Fuse

New York City

Terrorism

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, are accused of attempting to throw homemade bombs into a crowd of people and police officers outside Gracie Mansion in New York City on Saturday.
Officers quickly arrested the duo after one of the bombs was thrown. By Saturday evening, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the public, confirming that the devices were “a bit smaller than a football, [appeared] to be a jar wrapped in black tape, importantly with nuts, bolts, and screws along with a hobby fuse that could be lit.”
The devices — in Balat’s own words — were intended “to carry out an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon,” which Balat noted caused “only three deaths.” From Pennsylvania, Balat and Kayumi reportedly traveled to New York City to carry out their attack. After Balat was arrested on Saturday, authorities located a car registered to Balat’s family member and found footage of the vehicle crossing the George Washington Bridge into New York City at 11:36 a.m. on Sunday.
Balat and Kayumi lived <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/alleged-isis-inspired-suburban-terrorists-lived-10-miles-apart-were-strangers-before-nyc-attack-lawyer">ten miles</a> from each other in Pennsylvania. Balat is enrolled at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Kayumi graduated from Council Rock High School in 2024. Balat’s lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, claimed to reporters that the men did not know each other prior to the attack: “They’re strangers, as far as I know.” He added that they are in different age groups.
An official from Neshaminy High School shared with The Daily Wire said Balat was enrolled in the district’s virtual academy and had not attended in-person classes since September. Essmidi said, “He’s finishing school remotely because he has only like three classes left to do.”
When arrested, both Balat and Kayumi referred to ISIS in recorded post-arrest statements. Balat pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State on a piece of paper at the police detention center, and Kayumi said he was affiliated with ISIS and watched ISIS propaganda on his phone.
Authorities have since searched Balat and Kayumi’s devices, as well as their homes. Balat lived in Langhorne in a home estimated to be worth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-suspected-nyc-terrorist-flashes-isis-salute-three-times?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WATCH%3A+Suspected+NYC+Terrorist+Flashes+ISIS+Salute+Three+Times">$653,000,</a> and Kayumi lived in a home worth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-suspected-nyc-terrorist-flashes-isis-salute-three-times?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WATCH%3A+Suspected+NYC+Terrorist+Flashes+ISIS+Salute+Three+Times">$2.25 million</a>. It is unclear whether Kayumi continued to live in that home after he graduated from Council Rock.
The FBI also searched a storage facility in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on South Flowers Mill Road. The FBI said it was conducting a court-authorized search in connection with Balat and Kayumi’s terrorism case.
Kayumi’s parents were <a href="https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2026/03/09/are-terror-suspects-emir-balat-and-ibrahim-kayumi-us-citizens-bucks-county-gracie-mansion-protest/89069831007/">originally from</a> Afghanistan and became naturalized citizens in 2004 and 2009.
Both Balat and Kayumi <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-investigation-terrorism-explosive-device-new-york-city-mayor-mamdani-gracie-mansion/">traveled internationally</a> in the last two years. Balat left the United States for about four months, traveling to Istanbul, Turkey, from May 6, 2025, to August 26, 2025. In January of this year, Balat left the country, again traveling to Turkey. Like Balat, Kayumi also went to Istanbul, but in July and August of 2024. He also traveled to Saudi Arabia in March of that year.

US-POLITICS-DEMONSTRATION

Everything We Know About The Suspected NYC Terrorists

Turkey

According to a new law, all public and private schools in Pennsylvania will be required to add cursive handwriting lessons into their curriculum beginning next month.
The bill was signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) last month and will take effect on April 12. It also had bipartisan support and passed the House 195‑8 and the Senate 42‑5 before being signed by the governor, according to <a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/pennsylvania-schools-will-be-required-teach-cursive-again-starting-april">Fox 29 Philadelphia.</a>
PA Senator and bill sponsor Wayne Langerholic (R) said in a statement that &#8220;by reintegrating cursive into the curriculum…we are investing in our students’ cognitive development, strengthening their legal preparedness and preserving their connection to historical literacy.&#8221;
&#8220;Cursive is more than handwriting. It’s a bridge,&#8221; Rep. Dane Watro (R), a cosponsor of the bill, said in a statement. &#8220;It connects us to our history, strengthens learning and deepens our understanding of the world. By teaching cursive, we’re equipping students with skills that sharpen the mind and safeguard our shared heritage.&#8221;
There’s been a big debate over cursive writing instruction ever since the Common Core Standards for public school education, which were adopted in 2010, did not include a cursive handwriting requirement. Those standards stressed printed writing and keyboard skills to be used for writing instead. 
One recent <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11943480/">study</a> found that cursive helps children with brain development. 
“The Neuroscience Behind Writing” found that “cursive writing involves greater activation of the motor cortex and cerebellum, as it requires fine motor coordination and smooth transitions between letters.” The report went on to note that, …this fluidity enhances memory retention and cognitive engagement, as the writer must anticipate the next letter in a continuous motion.”
Per the website <a href="https://mycursive.com/states-that-require-cursive-writing/#:~:text=Arizona,introduced%20as%20recently%20as%202022.)">MyCursive</a>, almost half of states still require or encourage cursive instruction in the classroom. That number has been steadily increasing over the years. 
New Jersey just updated their cursive writing requirements earlier this year as Governor Phil Murphy (D ) signed a cursive mandate into law just before leaving office in January. The new standards will go into effect next school year for students.
“We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders,” Murphy said in a statement at the time, per the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/20/us-news/nj-flips-script-mandates-teaching-cursive-writing-in-schools-starting-next-fall/">New York Post</a>.

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