In brief
A former Army soldier, Andrew Arrabaca, was arrested after setting a gas‑filled fire outside the 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, which houses the FBI, ICE and USCIS. The suspect, described by DHS as an "anti‑ICE riot", fired a pellet gun and launched fireworks, pouring gasoline on the stairwell and causing minor injuries to three people, including a government employee. Federal agents apprehended him while he was armed with multiple weapons. The incident highlights rising tensions at the federal building over immigration policy and protest. Authorities have labelled Arrabaca an extremist and are pressing for stringent security measures.
A former U.S. Army soldier, Andrew Arrabaca, 43, was arrested by FBI agents after igniting a fire in front of the 26 Federal Plaza building in Lower Manhattan, which houses offices for the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Arrabaca allegedly fired a pellet gun and set off fireworks before pouring an accelerant on the building’s stairwell, creating a blaze that forced the fire department to intervene.
Federal agents said the suspect was armed with a machete, multiple knives, axes and an airsoft pellet gun. The DHS described him as an "anti-ICE rioter" and noted that Arrabaca made several anti-government statements during the incident.
Three people were injured, including an immigrant attending a status hearing and a government employee. The DHS also reported a security officer who tackled Arrabaca sustained minor injuries.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing” and pledged to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers. The event underscores the heightened tensions at the federal building, a flashpoint for protests against former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
According to CBS, Arrabaca served in the U.S. Army (2001-2004) and the Army National Guard—New York (2004-2005), leaving the service with the rank of specialist and no foreign deployments.
