Person in custody after starting fire outside New York federal building, FBI says

By — Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press By — Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/person-in-custody-after-starting-fire-outside-new-york-federal-building-fbi-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Person in custody after starting fire outside New York federal building, FBI says Nation Jul 20, 2026 3:15 PM EDT NEW YORK (AP) — A person set off fireworks and started a fire Monday morning outside a New York building housing an immigration court and other government offices, according to federal authorities. As the flames erupted outside an entrance to the building at 26 Federal Plaza, the person was tackled by a security officer and taken into custody, video shows. Their name has not been released and no charges have been announced. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The lower Manhattan building, 26 Federal Plaza, has become a focal point for demonstrations against the immigration policies of President Donald Trump's administration. The individual in custody was carrying anti-ICE material, according to preliminary information gathered by law enforcement and described by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name. The Department of Homeland Security accused the person of being an "anti-ICE rioter" and said the incident took place around 8:20 a.m., when the person allegedly launched fireworks outside the building and then poured what's believed to be gasoline on the stairs to an entrance and set it on fire. DHS said the person had what appeared to be two pellet guns in their bag. A bystander was grazed by the fireworks, and the security officer who tackled the person sustained minor injuries, the agency said. The New York Fire Department said one person was transported to the hospital, but their injuries weren't life-threatening. "What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning was deeply disturbing," New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media. "I'm relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody." Mamdani said his team was in touch with police and will support the federal investigation. The FBI said its New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating. The building houses several government offices — including the New York office of the FBI — and the immigration court where agents have carried out chaotic and sometimes violent arrests in the hallway as migrants leave hearings. Videos and photos from the scene showed a fire with a plume of smoke on the sidewalk outside the building, as well as officers restraining a person and taking them away. Stengle reported from Dallas. Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy