A federal grand jury in New York indicted former U.S. Army private Andrew Arrabaca on Tuesday on charges stemming from a July arson attack outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in Manhattan. The indictment alleges Arrabaca planned and executed a firebombing targeting the building’s stairwell, which houses an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.
The charges include arson and reckless endangerment, with prosecutors stating Arrabaca used a flammable liquid to ignite the fire, threw a firework into the flames that exploded, and fired additional fireworks at the building. The incident caused injury to at least one person and posed a substantial risk of harm to federal employees, security personnel, and emergency responders.
Arrabaca has not yet entered a plea, and an arraignment date has not been scheduled. Surveillance footage from the July 26 incident shows a man in a helmet pouring gasoline onto a stairwell, lighting it, and firing a BB rifle before being tackled by a security guard.
Federal prosecutors described the attack as a “calculated, targeted and unacceptably dangerous” act. The indictment does not specify a motive but notes Arrabaca’s history of anti-ICE activity, according to officials cited by ABC News. The Jacob K. Javits Federal Building is a major federal complex in lower Manhattan, housing multiple government agencies, including ICE’s New York field office.
The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with no further details on Arrabaca’s military service or background provided in the indictment. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges or information may be forthcoming as the case proceeds.