A former US Army soldier accused of setting off fireworks and starting a fire outside a New York building that houses an immigration court and other government offices is in custody, an FBI official said. The FBI said the man, identified as Andrew Arrabaca, had been interviewed after the incident on Monday morning.

Officials said the incident happened outside 26 Federal Plaza, a lower Manhattan building that has become a focal point for protests against the immigration policies of President Donald Trump's administration. Authorities said no one was seriously injured, though one bystander was grazed by fireworks and a security officer suffered minor injuries while tackling the suspect.

At a news conference, James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, said Arrabaca "came armed with bad intentions" and was looking to injure people. Barnacle said he had various weapons, including a pellet gun, knives, a hammer and a machete, and fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft rifle towards the building. "He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist," Barnacle said.

Video from the scene showed flames erupting outside one entrance to the building before a security officer tackled the suspect and took him into custody. The FBI said its New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating. No charges had been announced.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the incident took place around 8.20 am, when the suspect allegedly launched fireworks outside the building, then poured what is believed to be petrol on the stairs to an entrance and set it on fire. DHS said the person had what appeared to be two pellet guns in a bag and described him as an "anti-ICE rioter". Preliminary information gathered by law enforcement, and described by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorised to discuss an ongoing investigation by name, said the individual was carrying anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement material.

The New York Fire Department said one person was taken to hospital, but the injuries were not life-threatening. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media, "What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing. I'm relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody." He said his team was in touch with police and would support the federal investigation.

The building houses several government offices, including the New York office of the FBI, and the immigration court where agents have carried out chaotic and sometimes violent arrests in the hallway as migrants leave hearings. Photos and videos from the scene showed smoke rising from the fire on the pavement outside the building as officers restrained the suspect and led him away.

Officials said the suspect was in custody after the fire and fireworks incident outside 26 Federal Plaza, where an immigration court and other federal offices are located, and the FBI and other agencies are continuing their investigation.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends

Published By:

India Today Web Desk

Published On:

Jul 21, 2026 01:10 IST