Federal prosecutors have made public surveillance video documenting what they describe as a deliberate arson attack on 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, a government facility housing offices for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other federal agencies.
The footage, released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, allegedly shows Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old Army veteran from Poughkeepsie, carrying out a methodical assault on the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building.
The surveillance video depicts a man in camouflage pants and a helmet pulling a cart adorned with an anti-ICE banner. What unfolds in the footage is a sequence of escalating violence that prosecutors characterize as both anti-government and anti-American in nature.
According to the video evidence, the suspect is seen placing fireworks on the ground before launching them toward pedestrians in the vicinity of the federal building. The figure then reappears in the frame carrying what investigators have identified as a BB or pellet gun, which he allegedly fires before pouring gasoline on the building’s steps and igniting it.
Before the footage concludes, the individual can be observed throwing a box into the flames. Investigators later determined that box contained additional fireworks, suggesting a level of premeditation in the attack.
Federal officers responded to the scene and took Arrabaca into custody without further incident.
The attack resulted in injuries to at least three individuals. One person sustained a significant gash to the back of their head from explosive debris, according to court documents. Two others suffered what authorities described as minor injuries.
When arrested, Arrabaca was allegedly found in possession of numerous additional weapons and incendiary devices. Initial reports indicated he was carrying an Airsoft rifle, but prosecutors subsequently corrected that assessment, confirming it was a BB or pellet gun. Photographic evidence from the scene shows at least two such weapons on the ground following his apprehension.
The incident raises serious questions about security at federal facilities and the threat posed by individuals harboring extreme anti-government sentiments. The Jacob K. Javits Federal Building serves as a critical hub for federal law enforcement operations in New York City, making it a symbolic target for those opposed to federal authority.
Arrabaca faces federal arson charges, though additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues. The case remains under active prosecution in the Southern District of New York.
The release of this surveillance footage serves not only as evidence in the criminal proceedings but as a stark reminder of the very real dangers faced by federal employees and the public in an era of heightened political tensions and anti-government rhetoric.
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