Federal Plaza Explosion NYC: Suspect in Custody After Fire, Fireworks

Federal Plaza explosion NYC: a man armed with fireworks, a flammable liquid and airsoft rifles set a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan Monday morning, sending immigration agents and FBI personnel rushing out with guns drawn before a Federal Protective Service officer tackled and detained him. The FBI confirmed the individual was taken into custody shortly after the roughly 8:20 a.m. incident, and its New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is now investigating. Three people were injured, including a bystander who was reportedly grazed by fireworks, though none of the injuries were described as serious.

What Happened at the Federal Plaza Explosion in NYC

FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that an individual deployed an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York, with the individual taken into custody and two minor injuries reported at the time. The Department of Homeland Security said the episode began around 8:20 a.m. when the suspect launched fireworks outside the building, grazing a bystander, before pouring what authorities believe was gasoline on the entrance steps and setting it on fire. Video from the scene showed a thick plume of black smoke rising above the building as officers moved in to detain the suspect.

Suspect Identified as Army Veteran Andrew Arrabaca

Officials identified the suspect as Andrew Arrabaca, 43, a U.S. Army veteran from Poughkeepsie with an address in Harlem, who served in the regular Army from July 2001 to July 2004 and in the Army National Guard-New York from July 2004 to July 2005, leaving the service at the rank of specialist with no deployments. Authorities say Arrabaca took the subway to Penn Station Sunday night, stayed near the Holland Tunnel overnight, and arrived near the federal building around 5 a.m. Monday, roughly three hours before the attack. Police sources told CBS New York that Arrabaca had a prior encounter with federal agents after being flagged as an emotionally disturbed person, though he was not arrested at that time.

Weapons, Airsoft Rifles and a Manifesto Recovered at the Scene

Federal officials said Arrabaca fired around five shots from an airsoft rifle and was found carrying a hammer, three knives, a machete, six fireworks and other destructive devices. Officers recovered the suspect’s bag, which contained what appeared to be two pellet guns and a manifesto, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Investigators also found a wagon at the scene bearing a handwritten sign reading “ICE off our streets,” which police said was used to carry the fireworks and airsoft weapons to the building.

Injuries Reported Among Federal Employees and a Civilian

Barnacle said one civilian and two government employees were injured in the incident; the civilian who was hurt was an immigrant who had a hearing Monday in their immigration case. All three were treated for what officials described as minor injuries. A Federal Protective Service officer also sustained minor injuries while tackling and detaining the suspect, according to DHS.

Why 26 Federal Plaza Is a Flashpoint in the Immigration Debate

The complex at 26 Federal Plaza houses dozens of federal agencies and thousands of employees, including the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, the James L. Watson U.S. Court of International Trade, the New York field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and an immigration court whose holding facilities have drawn complaints over crowded and unhealthy conditions. The building has become a recurring site of protest activity amid the Trump administration’s nationwide immigration enforcement push, and officials say Arrabaca had demonstrated there in the past.

Political Reaction to the NYC Federal Building Attack

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement that what occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza was “deeply disturbing,” adding that he was relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect was in custody, and that his administration would support the federal investigation. White House border czar Tom Homan responded on Fox News that he appreciated comments from Mamdani and other Democrats condemning the attack but said they came “too little too late,” pointing to past rhetoric critical of federal immigration enforcement. The incident lands amid a broader rise in tensions and reported threats against federal immigration officers since the start of the administration’s enforcement campaign.

What Happens Next in the Investigation

Federal charges against Arrabaca have not yet been filed as of Monday afternoon, and officials say the investigation remains active. Investigators have located a vehicle believed to belong to Arrabaca and are seeking a warrant to search it. The FBI has not released additional details on the contents of the recovered manifesto or whether Arrabaca will face domestic terrorism-related charges, though Barnacle told reporters the bureau is treating the case with the seriousness of an intentional attack rather than an isolated protest incident.

For continuing coverage, see CNN’s reporting on the 26 Federal Plaza incident.