A U.S. Army veteran has been arrested after allegedly throwing a homemade firebomb outside a federal building in Lower Manhattan that houses Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI. The attack is being investigated as an act of anti-government terrorism, and it is raising serious concerns about the growing threat of violence targeting federal immigration enforcement.
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On Monday morning, Andrew Arrabaca, 43, allegedly set fire to the area outside 26 Federal Plaza by throwing a device made from fireworks and flammable liquid. Several people suffered minor injuries, but no deaths were reported.
From The National Pulse:
Authorities claimed that he was armed with two axes, three knives, a hammer, a machete, and six incendiary devices, as well as a lighter and a liquid suspected to be gasoline, two pellet guns, and had a manifesto.
In a press conference following the attack, Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) James Barnacle claimed that Arrabaca was “looking to injure people and harm people” and described the incident as an “anti-government attack,” citing materials found on Arrabaca, including a sign that read “ICE Off Our Streets.”
“An FPS Protective Security Officer swiftly tackled and detained the agitator, sustaining minor injuries during the incident. Officers quickly recovered the suspect’s bag, which contained what appeared to be two pellet guns and a manifesto,” said the Department of Homeland Security in a public statement following the attack.
This attack does not stand alone. It follows a sniper ambush at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas, another federal immigration facility. A pattern is emerging, and it demands attention. When political anger turns into targeted violence against law enforcement and federal workers, it crosses a line that no free society can ignore.
As intercessors, we are called to pray for those in authority and for the safety of the men and women who serve in law enforcement. Pray for the officers who were injured, for wisdom for investigators, and for a culture that resolves disagreements through lawful means rather than violence.
How are you praying about this issue? Share your prayers and scriptures in the comments below.
(Excerpt from The National Pulse. Photo Credit: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images)
