The Substack essaytitled "The Narrative Bombs" by El Gato Malo (published on boriquagato.substack.com, dated March 10, 2026), is a sharp critique of media handling (or deliberate misdirection) around a specific violent incident in New York City, framing it as a clear act of Islamic terrorism that mainstream outlets have obscured or reframed to fit preferred narratives.
The Incident Described
The piece centres on an event from the weekend before publication (likely early March 2026) outside Gracie Mansion (the NYC mayor's residence). A small group of about 12–20 protesters, including Jake Lang, rallied against what they called the "Islamification" of New York City — citing issues like public Islamic prayers and related practices — chanting slogans like "stop the Islamic takeover of NYC."
A larger counter-protest group (100–125 people) showed up opposing them, chanting things like "run the Nazis out of New York." The situation stayed peaceful until escalation: an 18-year-old U.S. citizen named Emir Balat shouted "Allahu Akbar," then threw an improvised explosive device (IED/bomb) toward police and the anti-Islamification protesters. He fled, but a second bomb was thrown at pursuing officers (allegedly handed to him by 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi). Both were arrested quickly.
Key details on the perpetrators (drawing from NYPD bodycam footage and statements):
Balat (son of Turkish immigrant parents, from a $650k home in Langhorne, PA) and Kayumi (son of Afghan immigrant parents, from a $2.2 million home in Newton, MA) were affluent suburban-raised Americans.
They were reportedly radicalised online (possibly with travel to terror-linked areas), following ISIS doctrine.
Balat explicitly pledged allegiance (bay'ah) to ISIS post-arrest, hoped for a mass-casualty event bigger than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing (which killed 3 and injured 260), and admitted watching ISIS videos for bomb-making guidance.
He stated he targeted "Right-wing agitators" for insulting his religion.
The bombs were real IEDs using TATP (triacetone triperoxide, nicknamed "mother of Satan" — an unstable, high-explosive favoured in jihadist attacks), packed with nuts, bolts, and screws as shrapnel. Construction matched ISIS instructional videos. They failed to fully detonate (luck or faulty assembly), but the intent was clearly mass harm/killing.
The embedded media in the article shows the moment: Balat yelling "Allahu Akbar" while hurling the device, then running, with bystanders reacting in confusion (some even saying things like "nice!" or questioning if it was an "Allahu Akbar bomb" while standing dangerously close).
Why the Author Calls It Terrorism
El Gato Malo argues this is textbook terrorism with no ambiguity:
Perpetrators used ISIS-style bombs and techniques.
They shouted a jihadist phrase ("Allahu Akbar") during the act.
Post-arrest statements confirm religious/political motivation: targeting perceived enemies of Islam, pledging to ISIS, aiming to kill/injure hundreds in defence of their faith.
It was a deliberate violent attack to intimidate or coerce based on ideology/religion — core elements of terrorism definitions (e.g., FBI: "violent, criminal acts... intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence government policy... by intimidation or coercion").
He emphasises: "bombs made from an ISIS terrorist manual were thrown at anti-islamic protesters by islamic radicals shouting 'allahu ackbar' and hoping to kill and injure hundreds. the perps have said so in their own words. this was a religious attack of islamic radicals against those they deemed enemies of their faith." He writes like that, in lower case, which is irritating, but it's his signature.
Critique of Media and "Narrative" Handling
The essay's core thesis is that much of the media (and some officials) engaged in deliberate distortion to avoid labelling it terrorism or linking it to Islamic radicalism — instead burying or reframing facts to protect certain biases or avoid "Islamophobia" accusations. Examples include:
Euphemisms like "devices" instead of "bombs."
Headlines/ reports framing it as thrown toward a counter-protester's house (e.g., "Mamdani's house") or vaguely at "protesters."
Associating the event with "white supremacy" or Right-wing agitators as the real issue.
Omitting ISIS pledge, "Allahu Akbar," radicalisation details, or perpetrators' statements.
Suppression or downplaying of the clear video evidence.
The author calls this "Smollettown USA" — fabricating or spinning narratives to fit tribal preferences, where truth is occluded rather than illuminated. He contrasts abundant primary sources (videos, bodycams) with media's "masterwork in 'not actually saying anything that was untrue while creating an overall impression that is entirely false.'"
Overall Point
In a time of endless information, people (and media) retreat into comforting "hallucinations" detached from reality, creating real danger. The incident is a stark metaphor for ignored threats when narratives trump facts. The author urges relying on primary evidence over filtered reporting, calling it "the truth is not obscure here. it's not debatable, uncertain, or yet to be determined."
This piece fits El Gato Malo's style: polemical, data-driven scepticism toward institutional/media narratives, especially around politically charged violence. It's not neutral reporting but an opinionated takedown of perceived bias in covering what he sees as unambiguous jihadist terrorism.