Man Arrested After Arson Attempt Near ICE Building
A man named Andrew Aravaca has been taken into custody for allegedly setting fire to a stairwell outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Lower Manhattan, New York.
During a press conference, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that Aravaca ignited fireworks outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building early Monday morning. After the fireworks started to smoke, he pulled out an airsoft rifle from a cart and fired several rounds at the building.
According to Tisch, the 43-year-old suspect then poured a flammable liquid in front of the employee entrance and ignited it.
Commissioner Tisch mentioned that the suspect allegedly had two airsoft rifles, used flammable liquids to spark fires, and displayed signs criticizing the agency.
Aravaca, who is thought to have resided in Poughkeepsie, is a former U.S. Army soldier with experience in maintaining the Patriot Missile System, as stated by James Barnacle, the deputy director in charge of the New York City field office.
Barnacle indicated that “26 Federal Plaza has been a target for extremists for many years, and today, they attacked it.” He described Aravaca as an “anti-American, anti-government extremist,” referencing his statements and actions during the incident.
Three individuals sustained minor injuries, including one civilian and two government employees, according to Barnacle. Authorities also found that Aravaca carried “two axes, one hammer, one machete, and three knives.”
Moreover, it was reported that he had a sign on his cart that read “ICE Off Our Streets.”
Eyewitness footage captured Aravaca pouring a flammable liquid outside the building and attempting to flee after starting the fire. The blaze spread quickly, but fortunately, it was extinguished before entering the interior of the building at 26 Federal Plaza.
The Jacob K. Javits Federal Building hosts the New York ICE field office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), immigration courts, and other federal entities.
