A man is arrested after starting a fire in front of a federal building in New York
The FBI described the incident as an attack on a government facility. Two people suffered minor injuries
A man was arrested this Monday after starting a fire in front of a federal building in Manhattan, New York, that houses an immigration court, in an event that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) described as an attack against a United States government facility.
The incident occurred in front of the building located at 26 Federal Plaza, where, among other facilities, an immigration court operates, according to ABC News.
The suspect used an incendiary device
According to authorities, the man poured a flammable liquid on the sidewalk and later started the fire using an incendiary device.
Videos released by the authorities show the moment in which the suspect sets the liquid on fire, generating an intense flame in front of the federal building.
The deputy director of the FBI in New York, James Barnacle, indicated that the man used fireworks to start the fire.
FBI: it was an attack against a federal facility
Barnacle called the incident “an attack on a federal facility with anti-government motivation.”
During the arrest, the authorities claimed to have found in the suspect's possession an incendiary device, a BB gun and a sign with the message “ICE Off Our Streets.”
The FBI also noted that the detainee had a history of protest activities against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).
Two people suffered minor injuries
Authorities reported that a federal employee and a civilian suffered minor injuries during the incident.
Both received medical attention and were later discharged.
No other injuries were reported.
The suspect remains in custody while investigations continue.
The case is led by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, which seeks to determine all the details of the attack and clarify its motivations.
For his part, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident “deeply disturbing.”
The president expressed his relief that no person was seriously injured and stated that the authorities will continue working to guarantee the safety of the city and hold accountable those who put the population at risk.