'Anti-ICE' Army veteran set fire outside Manhattan federal building, say officials

BBC Published Jul 21, 2026 Reviewed Jul 21, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old former US Army soldier, allegedly shot about five to seven pellets from an airsoft gun and set off fireworks at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, where the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and US Citizenship and Immigration Services have offices.

43 years · Andrew Arrabacaat least 5 pellets · airsoft gun pellets fired by Andrew Arrabacaat most 7 pellets · airsoft gun pellets fired by Andrew Arrabaca

Three people sustained minor injuries in the incident, including an immigrant attending a status hearing, according to the FBI.

3 people · people injured in the incident

FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle stated that Andrew Arrabaca was armed with two axes, a machete, three knives, and fireworks.

2 axes · axes carried by Andrew Arrabaca1 machete · machete carried by Andrew Arrabaca3 knives · knives carried by Andrew Arrabaca

According to the BBC's US partner CBS, Andrew Arrabaca served in the regular US Army from 2001 to 2004 and in the Army National Guard–New York from 2004 to 2005, leaving with the rank of specialist and without any deployments.

2001 · start year of Andrew Arrabaca's regular Army service2004 · end year of Andrew Arrabaca's regular Army service2004 · start year of Andrew Arrabaca's Army National Guard–New York service2005 · end year of Andrew Arrabaca's Army National Guard–New York service

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident 'deeply disturbing' and stated, 'Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city - and hold accountable any who threaten that.'

A former US Army soldier has been arrested after igniting a fire in front of a federal building in New York City, says the FBI.

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, allegedly shot a pellet gun and set off fireworks on Monday morning at 26 Federal Plaza, where the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and US Citizenship and Immigration Services have offices.

Federal agents tackled the suspect, who they say was armed with a machete and other weapons.

Three people sustained minor injuries in the incident, including an immigrant who was attending a status hearing, said the FBI. The lower Manhattan site has become a flashpoint for protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

The suspect, whom the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called an "anti-ICE rioter", launched fireworks before pouring an accelerant on the stairs of an entrance to the building, causing a fire. The BBC has contacted DHS for comment.

Arrabaca "made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the incident", the FBI said.

FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle said during a news conference that Arrabaca was armed with two axes, a machete, three knives and fireworks.

He fired about five to seven pellets from an airsoft gun in the direction of the building, Barnacle said.

Of those injured, two were government employees, Barnacle said.

DHS said a bystander was grazed, and a security officer who tackled and detained Arrabaca sustained minor injuries.

"He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist," Barnacle added.

Arrabaca, of Poughkeepsie, New York state, served in the regular Army from 2001-04 and in the Army National Guard-New York from 2004-05, according to the BBC's US partner CBS.

He did not have any deployments and left the Army with the rank of specialist.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident "deeply disturbing" in a post on X.

"Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city - and hold accountable any who threaten that," he said.

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