A man is in custody after igniting a makeshift incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza on Monday morning, sparking a fire that injured two people and prompted an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Video reviewed by authorities shows the suspect pouring a flammable liquid onto the sidewalk outside the building before setting it alight. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle said the device combined fireworks with a liquid accelerant. The fire spread quickly but was extinguished before reaching the building, which houses an immigration court and offices used by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI. The building was placed under a shelter-in-place order out of caution while the scene was secured.
A federal employee and a civilian suffered minor injuries in the incident. Both were treated at the scene and released, officials said.
Officers quickly secured the area and took the suspect into custody. Authorities said he has a history of anti-ICE activity and was found with a collection of weapons, including a pellet gun, a knife, and a hammer. The NYPD said it is also examining a cart the man allegedly wheeled to the scene that contained fireworks and airsoft rifles, along with a sign reading “ICE Off Our Streets.”
Barnacle described the incident as “an anti-government attack on a federal facility.” The suspect’s name has not been released. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation.
“What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media. “I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody. My team is in touch with the NYPD and we will support the federal investigation. Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city—and hold accountable any who threaten that.”
26 Federal Plaza has been a focal point of tension over ICE’s immigration enforcement in New York City. In June, Judge Kevin Castel issued a stay barring federal agents from arresting immigrants attending court-ordered hearings at the building, a ruling advocates hailed as a major check on the agency’s tactics. Reporting since then has found ICE continuing to detain people at the building despite the order.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
