A former US Army soldier who allegedly launched fireworks and poured accelerant on the steps of a Manhattan federal building is facing an arson charge after a security officer tackled him, the FBI has said. Andrew Arrabaca, 43, was armed with two axes, a machete, three knives and fireworks when he ignited a fire at 26 Federal Plaza—a building housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI and US Citizenship and Immigration Services—on Monday morning.
The suspect fired a pellet gun five to seven times in the direction of the building, said FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle. Three people sustained minor injuries: a bystander was grazed, a security officer who tackled Arrabaca was hurt, and two government employees were injured, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). One of the injured was an immigrant attending a status hearing.
“Former US Army soldier Andrew Arrabaca charged with arson after attacking Manhattan federal building with fireworks and axes, injuring three.”
Arrabaca “made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the incident”, the FBI said. DHS described him as an “anti-ICE rioter”. He was detained without bail after a prosecutor said he gave a lengthy confession. “He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist,” Barnacle added.
Arrabaca, of Poughkeepsie, New York state, served in the regular Army from 2001 to 2004 and in the Army National Guard-New York from 2004 to 2005, according to CBS. He had no deployments and left with the rank of specialist.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing” in a post on X. “Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city – and hold accountable any who threaten that,” he said. The arson charge was lodged in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.
