NEW YORK — Andrew Arrabaca, 43, was taken into custody outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on July 20, 2026. Three people were injured in the incident when Arrabaca set off fireworks, ignited a fire with flammable liquid, and fired an airsoft rifle at the federal building.

The incident occurred at 26 Federal Plaza, which houses offices for the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and an immigration court. Law enforcement officers subdued Arrabaca and took him into custody at the scene after he arrived around 8:30 a.m. pulling a cart with a sign that read "ICE Off Our Streets."

During the confrontation, Arrabaca fired five to seven pellets from the airsoft rifle at the structure. He also poured a flammable liquid on the ground and ignited it while wearing a military-style helmet. Officers recovered two axes, three fixed-blade knives, a hammer, and a machete from his possession.

The injuries sustained by the victims were minor and not life-threatening. One of the injured individuals was attending an immigration court hearing at the building, while two government employees were also hurt during the disturbance. A security officer who tackled Arrabaca sustained minor injuries, and a bystander was grazed by fireworks.

One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while two people refused medical attention at the scene. An initial 911 call reported an active shooter, but subsequent calls described an explosion and a man setting off fireworks. The NYPD Bomb Squad joined the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force in investigating the event. "The building was attacked." James Barnacle, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, stated that Arrabaca came "armed with bad intentions" and was targeting the facility.

"Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people and harm people," Barnacle said. Arrabaca told investigators he did not care if he killed people. Barnacle stated that Arrabaca made anti-government and anti-American statements during his arrest and yelled derogatory terms about ICE.

The Department of Homeland Security described Arrabaca as an "anti-ICE rioter." Barnacle declined to classify the attack as an act of terrorism but noted that 26 Federal Plaza has long been a target of extremists.

"What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing," said Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City. "I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody." Police urged people to avoid the area near Worth Street and Lafayette Street due to traffic delays and road closures.

"I am grateful to law enforcement for their swift actions to stop an attack at 26 Federal Plaza this morning, for successfully apprehending the suspect and for keeping the people of New York City safe," said Hakeem Jeffries, the top U.S. House Democrat. "Acts of terror and violence have no place in our city and will never be tolerated." Jeffries added that the individual responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media that two minor injuries had been reported. No charges had been announced against Arrabaca as of the evening of July 20, 2026. Arrabaca is a former U.S. Army soldier who served from 2001 to 2005, working as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems.

His last known address was in Harlem, New York, though he has also lived in Poughkeepsie. Security at the plaza was increased in the 1990s after followers of Omar Abdel-Rahman targeted the building for bombings. A bulletproof security booth was installed, and a street outside the parking garage was closed to most vehicular traffic during that period.

The attack targeted a key federal site in Lower Manhattan that hosts multiple law enforcement and immigration agencies. The Department of Homeland Security runs the Federal Protective Service and ICE, which maintain a presence at the location. The incident prompted an emergency response and ongoing federal investigation into the motives and planning behind the assault.

Authorities emphasized the potential for greater harm given the weapons and explosives used by the suspect. The swift intervention by security personnel and law enforcement prevented more severe casualties among employees and visitors.