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
Goldlaner.com – A man accused of throwing an incendiary device at a federal building in New York City was taken into custody Monday morning after setting a fire outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. According to law enforcement sources, the suspect was carrying anti-ICE material at the time of the incident. The building houses multiple government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI. Social media video captured the dramatic moment as someone tossed an object into flames outside the building, causing what appeared to be fireworks to erupt. Another individual was seen extinguishing the fire shortly afterward.
Details of the Incident and Suspect
The Department of Homeland Security provided additional details about the incident, stating that an anti-ICE activist launched fireworks outside 26 Federal Plaza. The device grazed a bystander before the suspect poured what is believed to be gasoline on the entrance stairs and set them ablaze. A Federal Protective Service officer responded quickly, tackling and detaining the agitator while sustaining minor injuries during the confrontation. The New York Fire Department reported that three civilians also suffered minor injuries, though specific details about those injuries were not disclosed. The suspect himself sustained minor, non-life-threatening injuries, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Separate footage captured law enforcement officers emerging from a heavy plume of smoke outside the building. During the incident, 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 have not yet been publicly released.
“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 contain fireworks and a flammable liquid, according to separate law enforcement sources who cited a preliminary assessment by investigators. Police are currently examining the man’s background to determine if he has any criminal history in New York City or previous encounters with law enforcement involving mental illness.
The New York Police Department’s bomb squad was 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 – serves as a hub for federal immigration courts and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is now leading the investigation into the incident.
“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 developing story will be updated as more information becomes available. CNN’s Mark Morales contributed to this report. The man accused of throwing an incendiary device remains in custody as investigators work to piece together the full sequence of events that unfolded outside one of New York’s most prominent federal buildings.
