An eyewitness captured video of the moment an individual ran up and set a fire outside of 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on the morning of Monday, July 20.
The witness, who asked to stay anonymous, told Storyful that she started filming after she heard what sounded like shots and saw a person with a cart and smoke outside the window.
Video here shows the fiery scene outside the New York Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza, which is where the city’s US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office is located.
In the footage, an individual can be seen throwing some kind of accelerant, lighting it, then being apprehended by officials.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the individual as an “anti-ICE rioter” who launched fireworks outside the building and poured what they believe to be gasoline on the steps of the entrance before setting the blaze.
An “FPS Protective Security Officer swiftly tackled and detained the agitator, sustaining minor injuries during the incident,” DHS said. “Officers quickly recovered the individual’s bag, which contained what appeared to be two pellet guns and a manifesto.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the individual was taken into custody and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is investigating.
“What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement.
“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,” he said. “Our administration will continue to ensure that every New Yorker is safe in their city — and hold accountable any who threaten that.” Credit: Storyful