Army Veteran Accused of Setting Fire Outside Federal Building That Houses ICE

A former U.S. Army soldier accused of setting fire outside a Lower Manhattan federal building that houses immigration enforcement offices was arrested Monday in what the FBI is investigating as an anti-government attack.

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, poured gasoline onto the ground outside 26 Federal Plaza and ignited it with a lighter and a large firework shortly after 8:20 a.m., FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said at a news conference. Arrabaca then pulled out an airsoft rifle, a type of BB gun, and fired five to seven pellets toward the building, acording to Barnacle.

A federal security officer tackled and detained him at the scene, authorities said. The building houses dozens of agencies, including the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Three people—two government employees and one civilian— were injured, according to the FBI. Barnacle said the civilian was an immigrant who was at the building for a hearing in their immigration case. All were treated and released, officials said.

The fire sent a plume of smoke up the facade of the building before it was extinguished, based on video circulated on social media. The New York City Fire Department said it received a call reporting an outdoor fire at 26 Federal Plaza around 8:30 a.m. and sent two engine companies and two ladder companies.

The blaze was put out before it reached the building, according to ABC7 New York.

The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating. Law enforcement seized Arrabaca’s car and was seeking a search warrant for it, according to CBS News.

Authorities had not announced formal charges as of Monday afternoon.

Arrabaca’s Background

Police officials told CBS News that Arrabaca had a previous encounter with federal agents for acting as an emotionally disturbed person, but was not arrested in that instance.

Barnacle said Arrabaca “came armed with bad intentions” and was carrying two axes, a hammer, a machete and three knives, in addition to the fireworks and gasoline. Arrabaca served in the Army from 2001 to 2005 as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems, he added.

Officers recovered his bag, which the Department of Homeland Security said contained two pellet guns and a manifesto. Arrabaca was allegedly carrying anti-ICE literature and yelled derogatory terms toward ICE as he was arrested, Barnacle said.

The FBI official described Arrabaca as “an anti-American, anti-government extremist.”

Arrabaca told investigators after his arrest that he was targeting the building and was willing to hurt or kill people entering and leaving it, whether federal employees or civilians, according to Barnacle.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing” in a statement on X.

“I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody,” he said.