Suspect Arrested After Creating Fire Outside the Federal Building in New York City
- Wanjiru Waweru
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor
W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News
New York City, New York – The man arrested for building fireworks outside at the federal building on Monday morning (July 20) was a former U.S Army Soldier, according to an FBI official. Andrew Arrabaca, who was a mechanic on Patriot missile systems, is in custody and participated in an interview.
James Barnacle, assistant director of the FBI’s New York Field Office, stated at a news conference that the 43-year-old Arrabaca arrived with a bad reputation and came with various weapons such as a pellet gun, knives, a hammer, and a machete. He reported that he fired five to seven pellets from an air rifle that was directed at the building.
"He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist," said Barnacle.
According to Spectrum News, “no charges have been announced yet against Arrabaca, and it was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer. As the flames erupted outside an entrance to the building at 26 Federal Plaza, the person was tackled by a security officer and taken into custody, video shows.”
The lower Manhattan building, 26 Federal Plaza, became a focal point for demonstrations against the policy of immigration for the Administration of Donald Trump.
The individual in custody carried anti-immigration and Customs Enforcement material, according to preliminary information that was arranged by law enforcement and explained by a person familiar with the matter who was unauthorized to continue with this investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security accused the person of being an “anti-ICE rioter” and reported the incident happened around 8:20 am, when the person allegedly set off fireworks outside the building and poured what they thought was gasoline on the staircase to be set on fire.
DHS stated the person had what eventually appeared to be two pellet guns in the orange bucket.
Fireworks grazed the bystander, and the Security Officer tackled the person with multiple injuries. The New York Fire Department reported that one person was rushed to the Hospital; however, the injuries did not become life-threatening.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a statement on Social Media.
"What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing," said Mamdani. "I'm relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody."
Mamdani explained that his team was connected to the police and would support the federal investigation. The FBI addressed that its New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating.
The investigation houses several government offices such as the New York office of the FBI and the Immigration Court, where agents handled the chaotic scene that led to the aggressive warrant in the hallway as migrants left hearings.
Surveillance photos and photos were shown as evidence of a fire that was filled with smoke on the sidewalk, as well as officers arresting the suspect.
About Wanjiru Waweru
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