Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old former U.S. soldier, has been charged with arson following an incident on July 21, 2026, near 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, where an incendiary device was detonated. Arrabaca appeared in federal court in Manhattan, where prosecutors claimed he had planned the attack for several months.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Fry stated that Arrabaca acknowledged the potential harm his actions could cause and expressed a willingness to accept his own death during the attack. The FBI reported that Arrabaca was arrested after he poured an unknown liquid on the ground and ignited it with fireworks, resulting in a small fire. He also fired several rounds from a pellet gun during the incident and identified himself as an “anti-American, anti-government extremist.”
Arrabaca faces charges of arson or explosion causing damage to U.S. government property, which carries a minimum sentence of seven years in prison. During his court appearance, he was not required to enter a plea. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky denied a request from Arrabaca's lawyer for him to be sent to a Veterans Health Administration facility for a mental health evaluation, instead ordering an evaluation at a federal detention center in Brooklyn.
The judge noted Arrabaca's military service but expressed concern over his mental health. Arrabaca's lawyers claimed he was suicidal, citing the military-style helmet he wore and the weapons he had during his arrest, which included axes and knives. Prosecutors highlighted that while only a few individuals suffered minor injuries, the attack could have had more severe consequences, given the presence of federal employees and a daycare in the vicinity. Arrabaca had previously been prescribed mental health medication but had stopped taking it about a year prior to the incident.