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NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors have released new surveillance video of an alleged arson attack on a government building in New York City that houses offices for the FBI, ICE and more.
Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old man originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, is accused of launching fireworks at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan before dumping gasoline on the steps outside and lighting it on fire, according to authorities.
The video shows a man alleged to be him in camouflage pants and a helmet, pulling a cart with an anti-ICE banner hanging from the front.
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The suspect can be seen placing fireworks on the ground before firing them toward pedestrians outside. He reenters the frame with a BB or pellet gun and begins shooting before dumping a can of gasoline on the steps and lighting them on fire.
Before the video ends, the figure can be seen throwing a box into the flames, which investigators later said contained more fireworks.
Federal officers arrived and arrested him at the scene.
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At least one person was injured by explosive debris, suffering from a gash in the back of their head, according to court filings. Two other people suffered minor injuries.
Arrabaca is accused of carrying a slew of additional weapons and incendiary devices. He was initially accused of firing an Airsoft rifle, but prosecutors later said it was a BB or pellet gun, and photos show at least two on the ground after his arrest.
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“He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist,” James Barnacle, the assistant director in charge of the FBI New York Field Office, told reporters at a news briefing Monday. “We know that from what he said.” He added that Arrabaca allegedly “came armed, with bad intentions.”
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According to the criminal complaint, Arrabaca allegedly told investigators he had been “motivated to act by anti-government beliefs, including a belief that government authorities were unlawfully harming people” and that he targeted the staircase because he knew it led to a busy entrance.
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Barnacle said Arrabaca is a former U.S. Army soldier who served from 2001 to 2005 as a missile system mechanic. Voter records show he has registered as a Democrat and a member of the left-wing Working Families party.
Three people suffered minor injuries in the attack. “Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people and harm people,” Barnacle said. “He had two axes, a hammer, a machete and three knives.”
He added that police also recovered six more fireworks, “some other destructive items” as well as anti-ICE literature. Authorities seized Arrabaca’s vehicle and were working to obtain a search warrant as Barnacle delivered his update Monday.
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Arrabaca does not appear to have a criminal record prior to his arrest outside the building.
The Federal Building has long been a target for extremists, Barnacle said. It’s also one of the most secure locations in Manhattan, surrounded by barricades and road closures.
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