A man described by police as an anti-ICE activist set fire to the entrance of New York City's main immigration court building on Monday morning, injuring at least two people before a federal officer tackled him to the ground.
The attack happened around 8:20 a.m. at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, the 41-story complex that houses an immigration court, ICE offices, a short-term detention center, and the FBI. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the man launched fireworks that grazed a bystander, then poured what it believes was gasoline on the stairs at the building's entrance and set it ablaze. A Federal Protective Service officer tackled and detained him, suffering minor injuries in the struggle. The FDNY reported as many as four people with minor injuries.
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Officers recovered the man's bag, which DHS said contained two pellet guns and a manifesto. Police said he had also wheeled a cart to the scene loaded with fireworks and airsoft rifles, with a sign reading "ICE Off Our Streets."
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating, and authorities said early on that they were treating the incident as an "anti-government attack." FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on X that the suspect was in custody, with EMS, the FBI, and the NYPD on the scene. The building was placed on shelter-in-place, and the NYPD bomb squad examined his belongings as a precaution.
The suspect has been identified as 43-year-old Andrew Arrabaca and reported that he may have emotional issues. He has been described as a protester with a history of anti-ICE activity. It was not immediately clear where he was from, and no charges had been announced.
Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, who earlier this year pressed the Justice Department to investigate who funds anti-ICE activism, posted a blunt reaction on ๐:
This is not normal.
This is terrorism.
Arrest and prosecute these terrorists.
Arrest and prosecute the people funding these terrorists.
Insider Wire@InsiderWire#BREAKING: New footage shows anti-ICE activist set fire outside immigration court in NYC.This article will be updated as new information is released.
