New York man arrested after detonating homemade explosive outside federal building housing ICE and FBI
A man was arrested Monday after setting off a homemade incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, which houses ICE and FBI offices. Two people suffered minor injuries, and the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating.
Incident at Federal Plaza
Around 8:20 AM on Monday, a man placed a homemade incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan, a building that houses offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and a federal immigration court. The device, composed of fireworks and a flammable liquid, ignited quickly, sending a column of white smoke into the air. The suspect also threatened passersby with what authorities described as a firearm before federal agents subdued him on the sidewalk. Two people suffered minor injuries: a federal employee and a civilian.
This morning, an individual detonated an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York. The individual is in custody and two minor injuries have been reported at this stage. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident.
- Suspect places incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza, threatens passersby with a firearm.
- Device ignites; federal agents quickly subdue the suspect on the sidewalk.
- FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force opens investigation; Director Kash Patel confirms two minor injuries.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls incident 'deeply disturbing'; House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemns violence.
Suspect and evidence
Police said the man was pushing a cart that contained additional fireworks, air rifles, and a sign reading "ICE out of our streets." The New York Police Department's Emergency Service Unit established a security perimeter around the area and notified the bomb squad. Investigators believe the suspect is an activist with a history of anti-ICE activity, though no formal motive has been released. The cart and its contents are being examined as part of the terrorism investigation.
Official reactions
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event "deeply disturbing" and expressed relief that no one was seriously hurt. "Our administration will continue to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers in their city and hold anyone who threatens that safety accountable," he said. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn, condemned the violence. "Acts of terror and violence have no place in our city and will never be tolerated. Their perpetrator must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Jeffries stated.
What happened in front of 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing. I am relieved that no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody.
Political backdrop
The attack occurred as tensions around ICE facilities have escalated during the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement. Protests have grown in several U.S. cities as the agency has received increased federal funding. The incident at 26 Federal Plaza is likely to sharpen the political debate, with the Republican administration already framing left-wing agitators as a primary domestic threat. The building itself is one of the most sensitive federal sites in New York, housing not only ICE and FBI offices but also an immigration court.
