A person with a history of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity was taken into custody Monday morning after deploying an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. when the New York Fire Department received a call reporting an outdoor fire at the building, which sits on Foley Square between Worth Street and Lafayette Street. Video footage captured the moment the suspect poured a flammable liquid onto the sidewalk and ignited it, sparking a massive fire. According to preliminary information, the makeshift incendiary device consisted of fireworks and a flammable liquid.
Officers quickly rushed from the building and apprehended the suspect at the scene. The flames rapidly spread but were extinguished before reaching the building. The structure housing numerous federal agencies was placed on shelter-in-place status out of an abundance of caution.
The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force immediately took charge of the investigation. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle characterized the incident as an “anti-government attack on a federal facility,” noting that the suspect used an unidentified liquid to start the fire and then placed fireworks on top of it.
Two people sustained minor injuries in the incident—a federal employee and a civilian—both of whom were treated and released. The New York Fire Department reported that four people suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries; three declined medical transport while one was taken to a local hospital.
Investigators discovered the suspect had been carrying multiple items besides the incendiary device. Police recovered a pellet gun believed to be used to menace pedestrians prior to the fire. The suspect was also pulling a cart that contained fireworks and airsoft rifles. A sign on the cart read “ICE Off Our Streets,” indicating the apparent motivation behind the attack.
The individual in custody was carrying anti-ICE material, according to preliminary information gathered by law enforcement. Police confirmed that the suspect is believed to be a protester with a history of anti-ICE activity, though authorities have not released the person’s name.
A firearm was also recovered in connection with the incident, though law enforcement did not immediately confirm whether it was found on the suspect. Investigators were examining the cart and the suspect’s possessions as part of their ongoing investigation.
26 Federal Plaza, also known as the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, houses numerous federal agencies including the FBI’s New York field office, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court. The building serves as a hub for government operations and the location where many migrants have been processed and arrested following immigration hearings.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the incident on social media, stating that an individual had deployed an incendiary device outside the building and that the person had been taken into custody. He noted that the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing” and expressed relief that no one was seriously injured. “I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody,” Mamdani said. “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.”
Police advised residents to expect traffic delays, mass transit disruptions, and road closures near Worth Street and Lafayette Street, urging people to avoid the area while the investigation continued. Law enforcement officials remained present at the scene throughout the day as investigators worked to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.