In brief
On Monday, Andrew Arrabaca, a 43‑year‑old former U.S. Army soldier, sparked a small fire in front of 26 Federal Plaza where federal immigration agencies operate. He fired pellets from a pellet gun, set off fireworks and poured an accelerant on the stairwell, causing the blaze and injuring three individuals. FBI agents cornered him while he was armed with a machete, axes and knives, and he was later detained and charged. The incident underscores the escalating tensions at the federal site, a focal point for protests against President Trump’s immigration policies, and elicited condemnation from New York City officials.
A former U.S. Army soldier has been arrested after igniting a small fire in front of a federal building in New York City, according to the FBI.
Andrew Arrabaca, 43, allegedly fired a pellet gun, launched fireworks and poured an accelerant on the stairwell at 26 Federal Plaza – the site of the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices.
FBI agents tackled the suspect, who they reported was armed with a machete, two axes, three knives and fireworks.
Three people sustained minor injuries, including an immigrant attending a status hearing. A security officer who detained Arrabaca was also slightly hurt.
During the incident Arrabaca made several anti‑government and anti‑ICE remarks, the FBI said, calling him an "anti‑American, anti‑government extremist".
Arrabaca, a Poughkeepsie native, served in the regular Army from 2001‑04 and in the Army National Guard from 2004‑05, leaving with the rank of specialist.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event "deeply disturbing," vowing to protect all New Yorkers and hold accountable those who threaten safety.
