Topline
A suspect deployed fireworks Monday outside a building in New York City that houses U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies, resulting in a large fire, with the FBI confirming Monday the suspect is in custody and describing him as an “anti-government extremist” who’s opposed to ICE.
The Jacob K. Javits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza is seen on August 15, 2025 in New York City.
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Key Facts
Following initial reports saying an individual had deployed an “incendiary device,” FBI Assistant Director James Barnacle and the Department of Homeland Security told reporters Monday that an individual had launched fireworks outside a federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, which houses ICE, immigration courts, the FBI’s New York field office and other federal agencies.
The suspect was taken into custody and the FBI said its FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating the incident, which took place around 8:30 a.m. EDT and is being investigated as an “anti-government attack.”
Barnacle identified the suspect as Andrew Arrabaca, 43, ABC News reports, describing the suspect as an “an anti-American, anti-government extremist” and claiming the suspect said after his arrest he was “targeting the building and he was OK if he hurt or killed people going in and out of the building, whether they were federal employees or civilians.”
DHS said Monday the suspect poured liquid, believed to be gasoline, on the stairs of the building’s entrance before “set[ting] it on fire,” with Barnacle telling reporters Monday the suspect put fireworks “on top of” the liquid to start the blaze.
Two government employees and one civilian were injured during the incident Monday, according to the FBI, with Barnacle noting the civilian was an immigrant who was at the building for a hearing in their immigration case.
DHS describes the suspect as an anti-ICE protester and Bloomberg reports they “menaced” pedestrians with a firearm, which the FBI and DHS have identified as being a “pellet gun,” prior to the fire.
Who Is Andrew Arrabaca?
Arrabaca is a former soldier who worked on Patriot missile systems, Barnacle said Monday. The FBI official alleged Arrabaca had “anti-ICE literature” and “yelled derogatory terms toward ICE” as he was being arrested, with police also confirming he had a cart with a sign saying “ICE Off Our Streets.”
What Has Mamdani Said?
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing” in a statement Monday, adding his staff is “in touch with the NYPD” and would “support the federal investigation,” and he was “relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody.” His administration “will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city — and hold accountable any who threaten that,” the mayor added.
What Do Videos Of The Incident Show?
A video published online and shared by news outlets Monday shows a large billow of smoke coming up directly next to 26 Federal Plaza. A team of officers quickly rushed out of the building and appeared to immediately apprehend the suspect, whom the video shows being ushered back into the building wearing handcuffs. Other video of the incident taken from overhead shows the suspect appearing to spread liquid on the ground and setting the fire, with a large blaze of fire resulting. Subsequent video reported by ABC 7 showed law enforcement gathered around weapons the suspect appeared to have in their possession, which the outlet identifies as including firearms, a hammer and a knife.
What to Watch for
The FBI’s investigation into the incident is still ongoing, with multiple outlets reporting the city’s bomb squad is also involved in the investigation and is inspecting the suspect’s cart. No charges against the suspect have yet been announced.
What Should People In New York City Know?
There’s no ongoing threat since the suspect is in custody, but the city government has warned locals to expect road closures and mass disruptions in the area where the incident took place, around Worth Street and Lafayette Street in Manhattan’s Financial District.
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