An upheaval unfolded in New York City as police detained a man for igniting what authorities described as an “incendiary device” in front of a federal building earlier today.
Chaos erupted as three individuals sustained injuries when an unknown assailant detonated an explosive outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in lower Manhattan.
“At approximately nine this morning, a man appeared with an incendiary device along with some unknown liquid. He poured this liquid, then strategically placed fireworks on top, which sparked a small blaze,” explained James Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York field office, during a press briefing.
“Our joint terrorism task force is handling this incident as an anti-government assault targeting a federal facility,” Barnacle added.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 43-year-old Andrew Arrabaca, an Army veteran, according to the FBI official.
‘He ignited gasoline, he poured gasoline onto the ground and ignited it with a lighter and an incendiary device. That device was a firework, a large firework in a canister that proceeded to catch on fire. Pretty big flame, as you’ve seen on the internet,’ he said.
‘He then pulled out an airsoft rifle and fired five to seven pellets, if you will, in the direction of 26 Federal Plaza.’
A man was arrested after lighting an ‘incendiary device’ outside of a New York City federal building this morning
The suspect is believed to be a protester with a history of anti-ICE activity
Barnacle added that Arrabaca served in the US Army from 2001 to 2005, and was a repairman and mechanic on patriot missile systems.
‘Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people and harm people. He had two axes, a hammer, a machete and three knives. Fixed blade knives. He had, as I said earlier, six incendiary devices or fireworks, and he had some other destructive items going,’ Barnacle said.
Footage obtained by WABC showed the suspect pouring the flammable liquid outside the building then igniting blaze.
As the blaze roared, plumes of black smoke billowed into the air in front of the building.
‘This morning an individual deployed an incendiary device outside of 26 Federal Plaza in New York,’ FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.
‘The individual is in custody and two minor injuries reported thus far. FBI JTTF [Joint Terrorism Task Forces] is investigating the incident.’
Federal law enforcement, including ICE officers and FBI agents, were pictured responding to the scene.
The suspect is believed to be a protester with a history of anti-ICE activity, according to the local news station.
Officers are ‘looking at the cart the suspect wheeled with him,’ which contained fireworks and airsoft rifles, according to police.
The ‘makeshift incendiary device’ was made up of fireworks and a flammable liquid, authorities said.
Photos from the scene showed the suspect’s cart had a sign reading ‘ICE Off Our Streets.’
Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the incident in a post on X.
‘What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing. I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody. My team is in touch with the NYPD and we will support the federal investigation,’ he wrote.
‘Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city – and hold accountable any who threaten that.’
Photos from the scene showed the suspect’s cart had a sign reading ‘ICE Off Our Streets’
Federal law enforcement, including ICE officers and FBI agents, were pictured responding to the scene
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised law enforcement for their response to the attack.
‘I am grateful to law enforcement for their swift actions to stop an attack at 26 Federal Plaza this morning, for successfully apprehending the suspect and for keeping the people of New York City safe,’ Jeffries said in a statement.
‘Acts of terror and violence have no place in our City and will never be tolerated. The individual responsible for this must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.’
The Daily Mail contacted the NYPD, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for more information.
This is a breaking news story.