Armed Man Triggers Terrorism Investigation Outside NYC Federal Building

A man believed to be an anti-ICE activist and armed with two airsoft rifles deployed an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York City on Monday morning, prompting a swift response from federal and local law enforcement.

At least two people were injured in the incident after the suspect “menaced” bystanders with the airsoft rifles, MS NOW reported. Five law enforcement sources told MS NOW that the suspect appeared to be an anti-ICE radical.

Video footage showed a plume of smoke rising near the building’s entrance as law enforcement officers, including ICE agents and FBI personnel, rushed out with guns drawn. Federal Protective Service officers apprehended the suspect on scene. The sidewalk was shut down, and the building was evacuated as authorities responded.

According to the FBI, the incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. ET, Fox News reported.

“This morning an individual deployed an incendiary device outside of 26 Federal Plaza. The individual has been taken into custody and the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident,” the FBI said.

The New York Police Department told Fox News that a firearm was found in relation to the event, though officials could not confirm whether it was recovered from the suspect. It’s unclear if the firearm found by authorities is different from the airsoft rifles the suspect reportedly had on him.

The building at 26 Federal Plaza houses the ICE New York City Field Office on the 9th Floor as well as a federal immigration court. The ICE office oversees Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations across the five boroughs of New York City and several surrounding counties, including Dutchess, Nassau, Putnam, Suffolk, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester.

This incident comes amid a broader trend of heightened concerns regarding threats to ICE operations. The Department of Homeland Security has previously reported a significant rise in vehicle attacks against ICE officers, noting a 3,300% increase in such incidents during a recent period compared to the prior year.

Authorities have not released additional details about the suspect or possible motives as the investigation continues. The Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes partners from the NYPD and other agencies, is handling the case.

The building, a federal facility in lower Manhattan, serves multiple government functions and is a known hub for immigration enforcement activities in the region.