Man accused of throwing incendiary device at NYC federal building carried anti-ICE material, sources say
Man Accused of Throwing Incendiary Device at NYC Federal Building
Earthguardiansonline.com – A man accused of throwing incendiary device at a Manhattan federal building was taken into custody Monday morning after setting a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza, according to law enforcement sources. The suspect was carrying anti-ICE material at the time of the incident, which occurred in Lower Manhattan. Video footage captured on social media shows flames erupting outside the building as someone tossed an object into the fire, causing what appeared to be fireworks to explode. Another individual was seen extinguishing the blaze shortly afterward.
Details of the Incident and Suspect
The Department of Homeland Security provided additional information about the event, stating that an anti-ICE activist launched fireworks near the federal building entrance. According to DHS, the individual grazed a bystander and poured what is believed to be gasoline on the stairs before igniting it. A Federal Protective Service officer responded quickly, tackling and detaining the agitator while sustaining minor injuries during the confrontation. The suspect was found carrying a bag containing what appeared to be two pellet guns along with a manifesto, authorities confirmed.
Three civilians also sustained minor injuries during the incident, though the New York Fire Department did not provide specific details about their conditions. The suspect himself suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries, according to a source familiar with the situation. Separate video footage showed law enforcement officers emerging from a heavy plume of smoke outside the building. During the confrontation, the man kept other people at bay by holding up a pellet gun. He was also pulling a cart that contained two rifles, fireworks, and various other items, according to law enforcement sources.
The suspect’s name and information regarding his alleged motive were not immediately released to the public. In addition to carrying a pellet gun, the man accused of throwing incendiary device material was carrying anti-ICE materials, according to two separate law enforcement sources. One source specifically identified the material as an anti-ICE poster. Details about exactly what was thrown and subsequently ignited remained unavailable as investigators continued their preliminary assessment.
“What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. “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.”
Before the DHS issued its official statement, the FBI confirmed that an incendiary device had been thrown at the building. The device was believed to consist of fireworks combined with a flammable liquid, according to separate law enforcement sources citing preliminary investigative findings. Police are currently examining the man’s background to determine whether he has any criminal history in New York City or any prior encounters with law enforcement involving mental illness, according to a law enforcement source.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation into the incident, according to the FBI. The New York Police Department’s bomb squad was also dispatched to examine the fireworks and other items found in the suspect’s cart. Located in Lower Manhattan, 26 Federal Plaza—officially known as the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building—houses federal immigration courts and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The building also contains offices for government agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI.
“Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city—and hold accountable any who threaten that,” the mayor stated. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. CNN’s Mark Morales contributed to this report. The man accused of throwing incendiary device remains in custody as authorities continue to piece together the full sequence of events that unfolded outside the federal building on Monday morning.
