A 43-year-old man was taken into custody Monday after allegedly setting off fireworks and starting a fire outside a federal building in lower Manhattan that houses an immigration court and other government offices, according to the FBI. The suspect has been identified as Andrew Arrabaca, a former U.S. Army soldier who served as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems.
The incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. at 26 Federal Plaza, which has become a focal point for demonstrations against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. According to James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, Arrabaca "came armed with bad intentions" and was carrying multiple weapons including pellet guns, knives, a hammer, and a machete.
Barnacle said at a news conference that Arrabaca fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft rifle toward the building before allegedly pouring what appeared to be gasoline on stairs at an entrance and igniting it. A security officer tackled the suspect as flames erupted outside the building, video shows. The New York Fire Department transported one person to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; a bystander was grazed by fireworks, and the security officer sustained minor injuries.
The FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident. Preliminary information gathered by law enforcement indicates the suspect was carrying anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement material, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and immigration advocates have emphasized that 26 Federal Plaza has been the site of sustained protests against ICE operations under the Trump administration. The building houses immigration courts where agents have conducted sometimes chaotic arrests as migrants leave hearings.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, said on social media: "What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing. I'm relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody." Mamdani said his team was in touch with police and would support the federal investigation.
Some progressive voices have pointed to the broader context of immigration policy protests, noting that while they do not condone violence, the demonstrations reflect deep frustration with administration policies. Immigration rights organizations have long argued that ICE operations at the building have been aggressive and traumatizing to community members.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials have characterized the incident as domestic extremist violence. The Department of Homeland Security described the person as an "anti-ICE rioter" in official communications.
Conservative commentators have emphasized that any attack on federal buildings constitutes terrorism, regardless of political motivation. They have praised law enforcement's rapid response and noted that the suspect allegedly came with multiple weapons and incendiary devices.
Republican leaders have called for continued vigilance against anti-government extremism, arguing that inflammatory rhetoric at protests can contribute to such incidents. The White House has not issued a formal statement as of publication time but DHS officials characterized the act as targeting federal infrastructure.
What the Numbers Show
26 Federal Plaza houses multiple government agencies including the New York FBI office and immigration courts that have processed thousands of cases annually under current administration enforcement priorities. ICE arrests in New York have increased substantially since January, according to agency data.
Barnacle confirmed at the news conference that five to seven pellets were fired from an airsoft rifle. The suspect allegedly had two pellet guns in his bag along with traditional weapons including knives, a hammer, and a machete, per DHS accounts of items recovered at the scene. No federal employees were injured according to initial FBI reports.
The building has seen ongoing protests since immigration enforcement actions intensified under Trump's second term. Demonstrations have occurred almost daily outside 26 Federal Plaza, according to local news coverage and social media posts from protest organizers.
The Bottom Line
Andrew Arrabaca remains in custody as the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force continues its investigation into what authorities are calling an anti-government extremist attack on federal infrastructure. The case will likely test how law enforcement characterizes politically motivated violence against immigration-related federal buildings during a period of heightened protest activity.
Federal prosecutors have not yet announced formal charges. The FBI said interviews with the suspect are ongoing. Officials are expected to provide additional details as the investigation progresses, including whether federal terrorism charges will be filed.