Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old Army veteran, was arrested on July 20, 2026, for allegedly setting a fire outside the federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. According to James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Arrabaca poured gasoline at the entrance and ignited it using a lighter and a firework canister. He was also reported to have fired an airsoft rifle and was carrying various weapons, including axes and knives, along with anti-ICE literature.
During the incident, three individuals were injured, including an immigrant attending an immigration hearing. Barnacle stated that Arrabaca expressed intent to harm individuals entering or exiting the building. The incident was captured on NYPD surveillance cameras. Authorities believe Arrabaca camped outside the building overnight before the incident. A Protective Security Officer from the Department of Homeland Security detained Arrabaca, sustaining minor injuries in the process. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the event as deeply disturbing but expressed relief that no serious injuries occurred.