FBI Investigates Attack Outside Manhattan Federal Building: Suspect Expressed Intent to Cause Harm
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, A 43-year-old military veteran was taken into federal custody Monday morning after setting off fireworks, igniting a flammable liquid, and firing an Airsoft rifle outside 26 Federal Plaza—the site of New York City’s largest immigration court.
Federal officials report that the suspect explicitly expressed a willingness to injure or kill people entering and exiting the Lower Manhattan building.
Incident Overview: What Happened at 26 Federal Plaza?
Around 8:30 a.m. Monday, law enforcement officers from the Federal Protective Service tackled the suspect near the employee entrance on Worth Street.
Authorities identified the suspect as Andrew Arrabaca, 43, originally from Poughkeepsie with a last known address in Harlem.
According to James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, Arrabaca admitted during questioning that he intended to cause significant harm:
“He did say he was targeting the building and he was okay if he hurt or killed people going in and out of the building, whether they were federal employees or civilians,” Barnacle stated.
Three individuals—two federal government employees and one civilian arriving for an immigration hearing—sustained minor injuries during the event.
Weapons, Evidence, and Anti-ICE Literature
At the scene, federal investigators recovered an array of weapons and destructive items, including:
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Two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives
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Six incendiary devices or fireworks
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An Airsoft rifle
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A cart adorned with “anti-ICE” literature and signage reading “ICE off our streets”
Witnesses reported hearing sounds reminiscent of gunshots before smoke billowed across the sidewalk. Law enforcement officers quickly extinguished the flames and cordoned off the area for hazmat and evidence collection teams.
Background on the Suspect
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Military Service: Arrabaca served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005 as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems.
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Movement Timeline: Investigators tracked Arrabaca taking the subway from Harlem to Penn Station on Sunday, staying overnight near the Holland Tunnel, and arriving at Federal Plaza shortly after 8:00 a.m. Monday.
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Vehicle Search: NYPD officers located his black Toyota RAV4 parked near West 124th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.
The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation in coordination with the NYPD, Federal Protective Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Key Takeaways
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Location: 26 Federal Plaza, Lower Manhattan (housing DHS, HHS, HUD, SSA, and the FBI).
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Injuries: Three individuals suffered minor injuries; no fatalities reported.
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Status: Suspect in custody as federal agencies continue collecting evidence.
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