'Anti-ICE' Army Veteran Starts Fire at Federal Plaza, New York

A former U.S. Army soldier has been arrested after igniting a fire in front of a federal building in New York City, according to the FBI. The suspect, Andrew Arrabaca, 43, allegedly fired a pellet gun and set off fireworks on Monday morning at 26 Federal Plaza, the location of several federal agencies including the FBI and ICE. The incident left three people with minor injuries, including an immigrant attending a status hearing, and heightened tensions at a site already a flashpoint for protests against President Trump's immigration policies.

Federal agents tackled the suspect, who was armed with a machete and other weapons. The suspect was described by DHS as an "anti-ICE rioter" and was found with two axes, a machete, three knives and fireworks. He fired about five to seven pellets from an airsoft gun toward the building, according to FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle. Arrabaca’s statements during the incident included several anti-government and anti-ICE remarks.

Three people sustained minor injuries, including a security officer who tackled and detained Arrabaca and a government employee. The fire department extinguished the blaze, ending the immediate threat. Arrabaca, of Poughkeepsie, New York, served in the Army from 2001 to 2004 and in the Army National Guard–New York from 2004 to 2005. He left the Army with the rank of specialist, without any deployments. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident deeply disturbing and pledged to keep residents safe while holding those who threaten safety accountable.