FBI: Army Veteran Targeted NYC Building, Willing to Kill
The FBI has revealed that a 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran who launched an incendiary attack on a federal building in Lower Manhattan told investigators he was prepared to kill federal employees or civilians caught in the assault. Andrew Arrabaca was taken into custody on July 20 after igniting gasoline and fireworks outside 26 Federal Plaza — a building housing FBI, ICE, DHS, and immigration court offices — and firing an airsoft rifle at the structure.
According to Gothamist, Arrabaca told law enforcement he was targeting the building and “was okay if he hurt or killed people going in and out of the building, whether they were federal employees or civilians.” Three people sustained minor injuries in the attack: two government employees and one civilian, an immigrant who had arrived for a court hearing.
The Attack
At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Arrabaca approached the employee entrance on Worth Street pushing a cart adorned with a sign reading “ICE off our streets” and carrying anti-ICE literature. He poured gasoline on the ground and stairs, ignited it with a large firework, and fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft rifle toward the building, the FBI said.
The fire spread rapidly but was extinguished before reaching the building. Federal Protective Service officers tackled and arrested Arrabaca at the scene. During his arrest, he yelled derogatory terms about ICE agents.
Investigators recovered an arsenal of weapons from the scene, including two axes, a hammer, a machete, three knives, six incendiary devices or fireworks, an airsoft rifle, and gasoline. A “manifesto” was reportedly found in his bag, though FBI officials did not confirm this detail.
The Suspect
Arrabaca, whose last known address was in Harlem but is originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005 as a Patriot missile system repairman and mechanic. He also served in the Army National Guard-New York from 2004 to 2005. He achieved the rank of Specialist (E-4) and had no deployments, according to BBC News.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle described Arrabaca as “an anti-American, anti-government extremist” who “was looking to injure and harm people.” The Department of Homeland Security characterized him as an “anti-ICE rioter.” Arrabaca had prior encounters with law enforcement, but officials said nothing approaching this level of violence.
Investigation and Response
The FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force — a multi-agency unit established in 1980 that includes NYPD detectives and FBI special agents — is leading the investigation, alongside the NYPD, Federal Protective Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. As of July 21, no charges had been filed.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing” in a statement on social media. “I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody,” Mamdani said. “Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city — and hold accountable any who threaten that.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that Arrabaca’s vehicle, a black Toyota RAV4, was located near West 124th Street and Broadway and was subject to a search warrant. Surveillance footage showed Arrabaca taking the subway from Harlem to the Penn Station area on the evening of July 19, staying overnight near the Holland Tunnel before heading to Federal Plaza around 5 a.m.
Broader Context
26 Federal Plaza has long been a flashpoint for protests against immigration enforcement policies. The building houses ICE field offices and immigration courts where agents have reportedly carried out arrests of migrants leaving hearings. The surrounding area has been the site of past anti-Trump and anti-ICE demonstrations, including instances where protesters were arrested attempting to storm entrances.
As USA Today reported, Barnacle noted that “26 Federal Plaza has long been a target of extremist acts of terror. Today, the extremist was brought here.”
What’s Next
Federal prosecutors are expected to file charges in the coming days, potentially including federal arson, attempted murder, or domestic terrorism charges. The investigation continues as authorities search Arrabaca’s vehicle and examine digital evidence. The case raises pressing questions about the classification of ideologically motivated violence and the security of federal facilities in urban centers.