NEW YORK—Federal authorities said they had arrested a 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran after an incendiary attack outside a lower Manhattan federal office building that houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI and other government agencies, leaving three people with minor injuries and prompting a Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation.
The suspect, identified by the FBI as Andrew Arrabaca, was taken into custody on July 20 after allegedly igniting a fire with gasoline and fireworks on the steps of 26 Federal Plaza and firing several rounds from a pellet gun, according to James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field Office. Authorities said Federal Protective Service officers and a security contractor quickly subdued the suspect at the scene.
Officials said two government employees and one civilian sustained minor injuries. The civilian had been at the building for an immigration court hearing, according to the FBI. A Federal Protective Service officer also suffered minor injuries during the arrest, the Department of Homeland Security said.
Investigators said the suspect arrived carrying fireworks, flammable materials and multiple weapons, including edged weapons, and displayed anti-ICE messages. The FBI said Arrabaca made anti-government statements after his arrest and told investigators he was unconcerned if people had been killed. Reuters could not independently verify those statements. Authorities had not announced formal criminal charges as of late July 20.
The FBI said the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies. Officials said they were continuing to examine the suspect's motive and had not formally classified the incident as terrorism.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the incident as "deeply disturbing" and said city officials were coordinating with federal authorities. He said there were no reports of life-threatening injuries and thanked first responders for quickly securing the area.
The building at 26 Federal Plaza contains offices for several federal agencies, including ICE, the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and has been the site of demonstrations over immigration enforcement in recent years. Authorities temporarily restricted access to the facility while investigators processed the scene.
Federal officials said the investigation remained active and that additional evidence was being reviewed. They said decisions on criminal charges would be announced by prosecutors after the investigation progresses.
