In brief
A former US soldier, Andrew Arrabaca, was arrested on Monday after setting a fire at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. Arrabaca fired pellets from an airsoft gun, launched fireworks, and poured an accelerant on the building’s stairwell, igniting a blaze that prompted Officer response and minor injuries to three people, including an immigrant at a status hearing. Federal agents managed to seize him while he was armed with a machete and several other weapons; the DHS referred to him as an “anti‑ICE rioter.” The incident, occurring at a site that houses the FBI and U.S. immigration agencies, occurred amid active protests against former President Trump’s immigration policies. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event deeply disturbing, emphasizing the city’s commitment to public safety.
A 43‑year‑old former Army soldier was arrested after igniting fireworks and an accelerant outside the federal courthouse at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan.
Andrew Arrabaca, a Poughkeepsie native who served in the U.S. Army (2001‑04) and Army National Guard (2004‑05), allegedly fired 5‑7 pellets from a pellet gun into the building, launched fireworks, poured gasoline onto the stairwell, and set the premises on fire. Federal agents tackled him, citing an arsenal that included a machete, deux axes, three knives, and more keys to his vandalism.
Three people were injured during the commotion, including a government employee and an immigrant attending a status hearing. Bystanders and officers sustained only minor injuries. The fire was extinguished promptly by the FDNY.
The Department of Homeland Security labeled Arrabaca an “anti‑ICE rioter,” while FBI officials said he made “anti‑government and anti‑ICE statements” during the incident. The lower‑Manhattan location has become a flashpoint for protests against former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, a backdrop that only heightened the arrival of a volatile protester.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared the incident “deeply disturbing,” pledging continued protection for New Yorkers. Arrabaca’s arrest underscores how siren roar of policy disputes may spill into the streets—and the new ways workers do or do not maintain public safety on the ground.
