Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were presented before Magistrate Judge Gary Stein wearing hazmat suits and handcuffs chained to their waists. Their attys reserved bail apps & Stein ordered them held for now. At their attys’ requests, he’ll recommend BOP put them in protective custody.

March 09, 2026 - 19:01 UTC

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Both looked shell-shocked, with Balat staring ahead and quietly saying something to himself before Stein took the bench, maybe a prayer. His atty wasn’t sure. Kayumi, shrinking into his seat, kept looking over at Balat, but Balat didn’t look back.
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After the hearing, atty Mehdi Essmidi said Balat was three classes away from graduating from high school and just turned 18. Essmidi said Balat and Kayumi weren’t friends, describing them as strangers to each other.

"When I say there is a lot to figure out about this young man, I mean it."
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Keep them locked up.
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