Andrew Arrabaca arrested after setting fire and firing pellets outside New York City immigration court

Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old former Army soldier, was arrested Monday morning after igniting a fire and firing a pellet gun outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The Department of Homeland Security described Arrabaca as an "anti-ICE rioter" who doused a stairwell with an accelerant, likely gasoline, and set it ablaze using fireworks. Federal agents tackled Arrabaca, who was armed with a machete, axes, and several knives. During the incident, he fired pellets from an airsoft gun toward the building, which houses offices for the FBI, ICE, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Three people sustained minor injuries, including two government employees and an immigrant attending a status hearing. FBI New York Assistant Director James Barnacle stated that Arrabaca expressed a willingness to injure or kill people during the event. The FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is currently investigating the incident. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event "deeply disturbing" and stated the administration will hold those who threaten city safety accountable.

Sources