A U.S. Army veteran who expressed anti-ICE, anti-government views has been identified as the suspect who started a fire outside the New York City federal building.
Andrew Arrabaca, 43, was tackled and taken into custody on Monday after he allegedly ignited an incendiary device outside of 26 Federal Plaza.
He was caught on surveillance footage carrying a bucket and dumping out a flammable liquid then igniting it. FBI New York officials said he also shot a pellet gun at the north side of the building.
Arrabaca is accused of carrying out an anti-government and anti-ICE inspired attack outside 26 Federal Plaza, which houses several federal government offices including for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The building has been the site of other organized protests by anti-ICE agitators and New York’s sanctuary politicians.
He reportedly told investigators he was targeting the building and was prepared to carry out a deadly attack. He said he didn’t care if he killed federal employees and civilians, authorities said.
Some law enforcement experts have said he could face terrorism charges, but no charges were announced as of Tuesday.
Two individuals sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident. He made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during his arrest, FBI officials shared on X.
Earlier today, Andrew Arrabaca ignited an incendiary device outside of 26 Federal Plaza and shot a pellet gun at the north side of the building. Thanks to the swift actions of Federal Protective Service Officers, NYPD Officers, and FBI Special Agents and FBI Police Officers the… pic.twitter.com/0j9PZzHFRS
— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) July 20, 2026
According to investigators, Arrabaca arrived at the employee entrance to the building around 8:20 a.m. He launched fireworks before firing five to seven pellets from an airsoft rifle at the building, Fox News Digital reported.
He then poured out a flammable liquid and ignited a fire that erupted outside the building, authorities said. Federal and local police officers arrived moments later, swiftly tackled the agitator and detained him.
Arrabaca also had several weapons in his possession, including two axes, a hammer, a machete and three knives, as well as other “destructive items.”
“Mr. Arrabaca came armed with bad intentions,” James Barnacle Jr., the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York City Field Office, said during a news conference. “Obviously, he is an anti-American, anti-government extremist. We know that from what he said.”
Following his arrest, Arrabaca allegedly told investigators that “he was okay if he hurt or killed people going in and out of the building, whether they were federal employees or civilians,” Fox News reported.
One of the people injured was an immigrant who was at the building for an immigration hearing. Barnacle said that was “ironic” considering Arrabaca’s expressed hatred for ICE.
In a post on X, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing,” despite the fact he has continued to fan the flames of ICE resistance in the city.
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.
Our administration will continue to ensure that…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 20, 2026
Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE have continued to blame heated public and political rhetoric related to immigration enforcement for an increase in politically motivated violence and assaults on federal agents and even National Guard members.
“Smears and hoaxes spread by sanctuary politicians have led to a more than 1,300% INCREASE in assaults on our law enforcement,” DHS shared on social media on Tuesday. “Sanctuary politicians must stop calling for violence and resistance against our heroic @ICEgov law enforcement.”
Smears and hoaxes spread by sanctuary politicians have led to a more than 1,300% INCREASE in assaults on our law enforcement.
Sanctuary politicians must stop calling for violence and resistance against our heroic @ICEgov law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/rirexiZOmg
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 21, 2026
Investigators were still digging into Arrabaca’s background but said he served in the Army from 2001 to 2005 as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems. No additional details about his military service were disclosed.
Barnacle noted that the building “has long been a target of extremists, of terrorists. And today the extremism was brought here.”
He credited the swift action of Federal Protective Service Officers, the New York City Police Department, and the FBI for quickly securing the scene and subduing the suspect.
At the scene of the incident, authorities found two airsoft rifles and the container with the flammable liquid. In addition, the suspect had a cart with a sign “ICE off our Streets” affixed to it, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Arrabaca is reportedly from the upstate area of Poughkeepsie, about 85 miles north of the city, but his last known address was in Harlem, Tisch said. A Toyota RAV4 belonging to him was found in that neighborhood and secured by police pending a search warrant.
FBI New York said the investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the FBI NY Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the New York City Police Department, and in coordination with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
