Law enforcement officials said the suspect allegedly poured a flammable liquid outside the Lower Manhattan complex, ignited fireworks and carried pellet guns and a manifesto before being taken into custody.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Authorities have identified the man accused of setting a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan as Andrew Arrabaca, according to two law enforcement sources who said he was carrying anti-ICE material at the time of the incident.
The FBI said Arrabaca was taken into custody shortly after the Monday morning attack, which left a federal employee and a civilian with minor injuries.
Fox News reported the suspect’s identity after speaking with the two law enforcement sources.
Both sources said Arrabaca had “anti-ICE stuff on him” when he was detained.
“This morning an individual deployed an incendiary device outside of 26 Federal Plaza in New York,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X. “The individual is in custody and two minor injuries reported thus far. FBI [Joint Terrorism Task Force] is investigating the incident.”
James Barnacle Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, said Arrabaca arrived with an unidentified liquid and placed it near the federal building’s entrance.
He then “put the liquid down, set some fireworks on top of it,” causing a “little fire,” Barnacle said.
Initial accounts indicated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents participated in the arrest. The Department of Homeland Security later said a Federal Protective Service officer tackled and detained the suspect.
Barnacle said Arrabaca was carrying a pellet gun. DHS subsequently reported that officers recovered what appeared to be two pellet guns from his bag.
The two people injured in the incident were a federal employee and a civilian, according to Barnacle. Both were treated and released.
The Jacob K. Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza houses several federal offices, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
DHS provided a more detailed account Monday afternoon, saying the incident began at approximately 8:20 a.m.
“At approximately 8:20 am, an anti-ICE rioter launched fireworks outside of 26 Federal Plaza, grazing a bystander and poured what is believed to be gasoline on the stairs of the entrance of the building and set it on fire,” the department said.
“An FPS Protective Security Officer swiftly tackled and detained the agitator, sustaining minor injuries during the incident. Officers quickly recovered the individual’s bag, which contained what appeared to be two pellet guns and a manifesto.”
“EMS, FBI, and the NYPD are on the scene. This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available.”
Authorities had not publicly disclosed the contents of the alleged manifesto or provided additional details about the anti-ICE material reportedly found with Arrabaca.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration was cooperating with the investigation.
“What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing,” Mamdani said in a statement posted to X. “I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody.”
“My team is in touch with the NYPD and we will support the federal investigation,” he continued. “Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city — and hold accountable any who threaten that.”
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the attack alongside the New York Police Department, emergency medical personnel and federal law enforcement agencies.
Officials had not announced formal charges or released a suspected motive beyond the anti-ICE material reportedly recovered from Arrabaca.
The investigation is expected to examine the liquid used at the scene, the fireworks, the pellet guns, the contents of the alleged manifesto and any evidence indicating whether the federal building or immigration agencies inside it were specifically targeted.
Original article
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