safety
Suspect in custody after starting fire outside New York federal building, FBI says
Summary by The Minneapolis Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by ABC , KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC)
· July 20, 2026
· 3 min read
NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of setting off fireworks and lighting a fire Monday morning in front of a New York building housing an immigration court and other government offices is a former U.S. Army soldier, an FBI official said. Andrew Arrabaca, who was a mechanic on Patriot missile systems...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Minneapolis Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting ABC, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Barnacle said at a news conference that the 43-year-old Arrabaca “came armed with bad intentions” and had various weapons, including a pellet gun, knives, a hammer and a machete.
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
In Minneapolis, the incident in New York raises concerns about the potential for similar extremist actions at local federal buildings or government offices. As a community with its own history of demonstrations and protests, Minneapolis residents may wonder about the security measures in place to prevent such incidents. The fact that the suspect in New York was able to bring weapons, including a pellet gun and knives, to the scene of the crime may prompt questions about the screening processes at federal buildings in the Twin Cities area. Additionally, the targeting of an immigration court in New York may resonate with Minneapolis' own diverse immigrant communities, who may be concerned about their safety and the potential for similar attacks in their own city. As the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force investigates the incident, Minneapolis law enforcement and community leaders may be watching closely to see if there are any implications for local security protocols.
About this story
Original reporting by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of setting off fireworks and lighting a fire Monday morning in front of a New York building housing an immigration court and other government offices is a former U.S. Army soldier, an FBI official said. Andrew Arrabaca, who was a mechanic on Patriot missile systems...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by ABC at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC). To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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