- Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old former US Army soldier, was arrested by the FBI after igniting a fire in front of a federal building in New York City.
- Arrabaca allegedly shot a pellet gun and set off fireworks at 26 Federal Plaza, which houses offices for the FBI, ICE, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- During the incident, three people sustained minor injuries, including an immigrant attending a status hearing.
- The Department of Homeland Security described Arrabaca as an 'anti-ICE rioter' who poured an accelerant on the building's stairs, causing a fire.
- FBI officials reported that Arrabaca made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the incident.
- FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle stated that Arrabaca was armed with two axes, a machete, three knives, and fireworks.
- Barnacle also noted that Arrabaca fired about five to seven pellets from an airsoft gun towards the building.
- A security officer who tackled Arrabaca sustained minor injuries during the arrest.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident 'deeply disturbing' in a post on X.
- Arrabaca served in the regular Army from 2001-04 and in the Army National Guard-New York from 2004-05, leaving with the rank of specialist.
- The site of the incident has become a flashpoint for protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old former Army soldier, was arrested after igniting a fire outside the federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The FBI reported that Arrabaca, described as an 'anti-ICE rioter', fired a pellet gun and launched fireworks before pouring an accelerant on the building's entrance.14
During the incident, Arrabaca was armed with two axes, a machete, three knives, and fireworks. He reportedly fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft gun towards the building, prompting a swift response from federal agents who tackled him. FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle stated that three individuals sustained minor injuries, including two government employees and a bystander.678
The incident occurred at a site known for protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Arrabaca allegedly made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the confrontation. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the event as 'deeply disturbing', highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the city.9
Arrabaca served in the Army from 2001-2004 and in the Army National Guard from 2004-2005, leaving with the rank of specialist. Barnacle characterized him as an 'anti-American, anti-government extremist'.
“Andrew Arrabaca, 43, of Poughkeepsie, New York, was carrying a machete, axes and knives, and fired a pellet gun before setting off fireworks outside the building. Three people sustained minor injuries, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident 'deeply disturbing' as the site has become a flashpoint for protests against immigration policies.”
BBC
