Former Army Soldier Fires Blaze Outside 26 Federal Plaza
New York – A 43‑year‑old former U.S. Army specialist was arrested after igniting a small fire and firing a pellet gun outside the FBI’s headquarters at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on Monday early morning.
The suspect allegedly shot a pellet gun and set off fireworks, then poured an accelerant on the building’s stairwell, sparking a blaze that the fire department swiftly extinguished.
Federal agents report that the man was armed with a machete, two axes, three knives, a pellet gun and fireworks. He also allegedly shouted anti‑government and anti‑ICE slogans while he was captured by security officers.
Three people were injured, including an immigrant attending a status hearing and two federal employees. All injuries were described as minor, but a security officer who tackled the suspect sustained cuts on his skin.
The incident has intensified tensions in the area, a hotspot for protests over President Trump’s immigration policies. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani described the event as “deeply disturbing” and vowed to keep the city safe from threats.
The suspect, Andrew Arrabaca, served in the Army from 2001 to 2004 and in the Army National Guard‑New York from 2004 to 2005, leaving with the rank of specialist and no overseas deployments. At the time of the incident the FBI said he had no prior criminal record.
