Army Veteran Arrested for Fireworks Fire Outside Federal Building in Lower Manhattan

A 43-year-old Army veteran, Andrew Arrabaca, was arrested on Monday morning after igniting fireworks and starting a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The incident occurred at approximately 8:20 a.m. and involved Arrabaca, who was armed with two axes, a machete, three knives, and fireworks. The FBI and NYPD responded quickly, tackling the suspect and extinguishing the fire.

Arrabaca, a resident of Harlem originally from Poughkeepsie, served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2004 and in the Army National Guard until 2005. He was described by FBI officials as an anti-ICE activist and was carrying a cart with the slogan 'ICE off our streets.' The FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is currently investigating the incident.

Three individuals sustained minor injuries, including two government employees. One person was grazed by fireworks, while a security officer was injured during the arrest. Video footage showed heavy smoke outside the building following an explosion caused by the fireworks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event 'deeply disturbing' and pledged support for the federal investigation.