Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was arrested Monday after igniting a fire and fireworks at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. Authorities described the Poughkeepsie resident as an anti-ICE rioter
who targeted the building, which houses federal offices, while armed with an array of weapons including axes and a machete.
The Incident at 26 Federal Plaza
The situation began unfolding early Monday morning when Andrew Arrabaca, a former U.S. Army soldier, allegedly launched an attack on the federal office tower in Lower Manhattan. According to ABC7NY, Arrabaca doused the building’s stairwell with gasoline and ignited it with a firework around 8:30 a.m. The resulting flames and smoke rose along the facade of the structure, which serves as a hub for the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
In addition to the fire, investigators reported that Arrabaca fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft gun toward the building. Federal agents and a Federal Protective Service officer intervened quickly, tackling the suspect to bring him into custody. While the fire was extinguished before it could penetrate the interior, the incident left three people with minor injuries—two government employees and one civilian who had been attending an immigration status hearing, the BBC reported.
Weaponry and Motive
Authorities discovered a significant collection of weapons in Arrabaca’s possession. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle confirmed that the suspect arrived with two axes, a machete, three knives, a hammer, and additional fireworks. Barnacle characterized the suspect’s intent as clear, stating he had explicitly mentioned targeting the building and expressed indifference toward potential casualties.
For more on this story, see Army Veteran Arrested for Setting Off Fireworks, Igniting Blaze Outside NYC Federal Building.
The Department of Homeland Security described Arrabaca as an anti-ICE rioter
who had made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the incident
. NYPD officers also recovered a cart from the scene that featured a sign reading ICE Off Our Streets.
Arrabaca, who served in the Army from 2001 to 2005 and worked as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems, reportedly traveled from Harlem to the Holland Tunnel area the night before the attack.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Status
The full scope of the legal consequences for Arrabaca remains in flux. While he is in custody, James McDonald, deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, noted that an investigation is currently underway and a formal decision regarding specific charges has not yet been finalized. The FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the inquiry into the attack.
City officials have responded to the breach, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani labeling the events deeply disturbing.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the federal building, which has frequently served as a focal point for protests against immigration policies. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine if Arrabaca acted alone or had further plans beyond the events of Monday morning.
