Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old former US Army mechanic who worked on Patriot missile systems, was arrested for an arson attack outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, New York. On Monday, Arrabaca poured a flammable liquid in front of the building, set it on fire, and fired an air rifle.
Federal prosecutors said Arrabaca had been planning the attack since January, purchasing supplies and scouting various locations around New York. The suspect reportedly arrived in Lower Manhattan on Sunday with weapons and other materials, spent the night in a park, and went to the building the next morning.
Security camera footage from the scene shows Arrabaca setting off a large firework near the building entrance, then pouring a flammable liquid and starting a fire. James Barnacle, assistant director of the FBI's New York office, said the suspect also fired an air rifle at the building five to seven times.
Arrabaca was found with two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives on him and nearby. He also carried a banner reading 'ICE Defolsun' and wore a helmet with messages like 'Kill yourself.'
At least three people were injured during the attack. The FBI said one of the injured was an immigrant who was at the building for a hearing. Prosecutors said one person suffered a head wound from debris caused by the fire or explosion.
Arrabaca did not speak in court. Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky said, 'The act you are charged with is alarming.' Emphasizing that the attack 'was planned over time' and 'was not something done on a whim,' Tarnofsky ordered the suspect to be sent to a mental health facility due to mental health issues.
Defense attorney Jennifer Brown said Arrabaca suffers from mental health issues and needs evaluation and treatment at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Prosecutors noted that the suspect had no fixed address or job and had been living in his car before the attack.
The FBI reported that Arrabaca held extreme views against immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) and the government, and that during the attack he said he 'didn't care if people entering or exiting the building, whether federal employees or civilians, were injured or killed.' Voter records show Arrabaca is registered as a Democrat and is a member of the left-leaning Working Families Party.
Arrabaca faces at least 7 years in prison on the arson charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 4.
