A view of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on November 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Lillian Mann
3:51 PM – Monday, July 20, 2026

A man identified as Andrew Arrabaca has been arrested after allegedly dousing a stairwell with gasoline and setting a large fire outside the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in lower Manhattan, New York.

During a joint press conference, New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that Arrabaca had ignited a bundle of fireworks outside of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building early Monday morning. As the fireworks began to smoke, he grabbed an airsoft rifle from his cart and fired several pellets toward the building.

The 43-year-old suspect then poured a bucket full of flammable liquid in front of the employee entrance of the building and set it ablaze, according to Tisch.

NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided new details on the suspect accused of attempting to ignite an incendiary device near a federal building.

Tisch said the suspect allegedly carried two airsoft rifles, used a flammable liquid to start a fire, and displayed a sign… pic.twitter.com/pepRJgm9t9

 — One America News (@OANN) July 20, 2026

Arrabaca, who was reportedly living in Poughkeepsie, is a former United States Army soldier who served for four years as a Patriot missile system repairman, according to Assistant Director in Charge for the New York City Field Office, James Barnacle.

“I will say that 26 Federal Plaza has long been a target of extremist terrorists, and today the extremist was brought here,” Barnacle said. “The building was attacked, Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people, and harm people.”

“He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist,” he continued. “We know that from what he said, we know that from what he said post arrest and we know that from the actions he tried to take today.”

 

During the incident, three people suffered minor injuries—one civilian and two government employees, Barnacle reported. The assistant director further noted that Arrabaca was found in the possession of “two axes, a hammer, a machete and three knives.”

Also in Arrabaca’s cart was a sign that read, “ICE Off Our Streets,” according to law enforcement.

A video captured by Eyewitness News showed the suspect pouring flammable liquid outside of the building, setting the fire and attempting to flee before being tackled by security officers. The flames spread rapidly, but were fortunately extinguished before they reached the interior of the building at 26 Federal Plaza.

 

MY GOSH: New footage shows the alleged anti-ICE attacker who dumped flammable liquid on the sidewalk outside 26 Federal Plaza — NYC’s immigration hub — before lighting it on fire this morning.

The suspect was identified as Andrew Arrabaca according to Fox News Digital.…

— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) July 20, 2026

The Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building houses New York’s ICE field office, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an immigration court, and other federal agencies.

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