Former Army Soldier Arrested After Firelit Protest Outside NYC Federal Building

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:10:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A former US Army soldier ignited a fire outside the FBI's Manhattan headquarters, prompting arrests and injuries.

A 43‑year‑old ex‑Army soldier, Andrew Arrabaca, was arrested after setting a fire and firing a pellet gun outside 26 Federal Plaza, the location of federal immigration offices. The incident, described by the FBI as a hostile anti‑ICE protest, injured three people and involved the use of a machete and fireworks. Arrabaca, who has been labeled an anti‑government extremist by DHS, made anti‑ICE comments while the blaze was contained by the fire department. The mayor of New York City condemned the attack as “deeply disturbing.” The event underscores the volatility around the lower Manhattan federal building, a focal point for immigration policy protests.

A former US Army soldier has been arrested after igniting a fire outside the FBI's Manhattan headquarters, authorities said.

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, allegedly fired a pellet gun and set off fireworks at 26 Federal Plaza on Monday morning, a building that houses the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices.

Federal agents tackled the suspect, who was reportedly armed with a machete, axes, knives and fireworks.

Three people sustained minor injuries, including an immigrant attending a status hearing. Two of the injured were government employees, and a security officer who detained Arrabaca also sustained minor injuries.

The DHS referred to Arrabaca as an "anti‑ICE rioter," noting that he poured an accelerant onto the entrance stairs and ignited the blaze. The fire department extinguished the fire quickly.

During the incident, Arrabaca allegedly made anti‑government and anti‑ICE statements. The FBI’s New York Assistant Director James Barnacle said he fired several pellet rounds from an air‑soft gun toward the building.

Arrabaca, from Poughkeepsie, New York, served in the U.S. Army from 2001‑2004 and in the Army National Guard‑NY from 2004‑2005, retiring as a Specialist. He had never been deployed.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident "deeply disturbing" in a post on X and pledged to protect all New Yorkers while holding accountable those who threaten city safety.

For context, the lower Manhattan site has been a flashpoint for protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and has frequently drawn the attention of federal agencies.