A 43-year-old former U.S. Army soldier arrived at one of the most important federal buildings in lower Manhattan carrying two axes, a hammer, a machete, three fixed-blade knives, six incendiary devices, and what the FBI calls a manifesto. He allegedly doused the sidewalk with gasoline, lit fireworks on top of it, and fired rounds from a pellet gun at the entrance of 26 Federal Plaza, the building that houses ICE field offices, FBI offices, and immigration courts.
Three people sustained minor injuries. Federal prosecutors say it could have been far worse.
Andrew Arrabaca of Poughkeepsie, New York, was taken into custody by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force on July 20, 2026, after what Fox News described as an incendiary attack on the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in lower Manhattan. Arrabaca served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2004 and in the Army National Guard until July 2005, the New York Post reported.
The criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charges Arrabaca with one count of federal arson under 18 U.S.C. Section 844(f). The charge alleges he "maliciously damaged and destroyed, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire and an explosive, a building" owned or leased by the United States, National Review reported.
Arrabaca allegedly dumped an unknown liquid on the ground outside the building, ignited fireworks on top of it to start a fire, and then fired five to seven rounds from a pellet gun in the direction of the building entrance. Law enforcement sources told reporters he had "anti-ICE stuff on him," and a bag recovered at the scene contained what appeared to be two pellet guns and a manifesto, though its contents have not been publicly revealed.
This was not impulsive, prosecutors say. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Fry told the court that Arrabaca's actions were:
"Calculated, targeted and unacceptably dangerous."
Arrabaca allegedly confessed to the attack and told investigators he had been planning it since January, AP News reported. Prosecutors say he traveled to upstate New York to acquire weapons and to Pennsylvania to buy fireworks in preparation. The sheer volume of weaponry he brought to the scene, including the axes, machete, knives, and multiple incendiary devices, suggests he intended more than a symbolic gesture.
Fry warned the court that the outcome could have been catastrophic. She stated:
"This attack could have ended much more tragically."
Prosecutors also alleged that Arrabaca was willing to accept his own death in carrying out the attack, a detail that underscores the severity of the threat assessment federal authorities are applying to this case.
James Barnacle, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office, did not hold back about the suspect's intent or ideology. Barnacle told reporters:
"He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist."
Barnacle also stated plainly that "the building was attacked" and that "Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people and harm people." The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident as a terror attack, a classification that could shape how federal prosecutors approach the case going forward.
The attack on 26 Federal Plaza fits a troubling pattern of violent incidents targeting federal buildings that house immigration enforcement operations. The building is one of the federal government's most prominent facilities in New York City, processing immigration cases and serving as a hub for multiple agencies.
Arrabaca appeared in Manhattan federal court, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky ordered him jailed without bail. The judge also directed that Arrabaca undergo a mental health evaluation at a federal lockup rather than at a Veterans Affairs facility, the Washington Examiner reported.
Judge Tarnofsky addressed Arrabaca directly from the bench, telling him:
"The crime you're charged with is troubling. The nature and circumstances, the fact that it was planned over time and carried out at a time when it could cause significant harm."
The decision to house Arrabaca in a federal facility rather than a VA hospital for evaluation signals that the court views him primarily as a criminal defendant, not a patient. Investigators have not publicly confirmed whether the mental health evaluation will affect the timeline of prosecution or whether additional charges are under consideration.
The Manhattan attack did not occur in a vacuum. Federal buildings housing ICE offices have become flashpoints as political tensions over immigration enforcement have intensified. In a separate case, eight Antifa-linked defendants drew a combined 450 years in prison for an armed attack on a Texas ICE facility, illustrating how seriously federal courts treat violence directed at immigration enforcement infrastructure.
New York City in particular has been a pressure point. ICE operations in the city have drawn fierce opposition from local officials, and federal officials have warned of an unprecedented agent surge in New York to counter resistance to enforcement actions. That political climate makes the security of federal facilities housing ICE operations a front-line concern.
Anti-ICE protest activity has also produced federal criminal charges in other cities. A federal grand jury in Minneapolis indicted three people in an alleged assault on a reporter at an ICE protest, reflecting the broader escalation from protest to violence that federal law enforcement has been tracking.
The single arson count Arrabaca faces under Section 844(f) carries serious penalties. Federal arson of a government building can bring a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and if the fire creates a risk of personal injury, the statutory maximum climbs higher. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they intend to seek additional charges, including any terrorism-related enhancements, but the Joint Terrorism Task Force's involvement leaves that door open.
Investigators will need to determine the full contents of the manifesto recovered from Arrabaca's bag. Authorities have not said whether the document identifies specific targets beyond 26 Federal Plaza, whether it references any organized group or ideology, or whether it names other individuals. The answers could reshape the scope of the prosecution.
Arrabaca remains in federal custody without bail. No date for a preliminary hearing or grand jury presentation has been publicly announced. The mental health evaluation ordered by Judge Tarnofsky will proceed at the federal lockup, and its findings could influence both competency proceedings and the defense strategy.
A man who swore an oath to defend the Constitution allegedly spent months planning an armed assault on a federal building full of people doing the government's work. The legal system now has to decide what that's worth.
