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The modern activist has become remarkably efficient. Why settle for chanting slogans when you can arrive with fireworks, gasoline, axes, a machete, multiple knives, pellet guns, and a manifesto? Somewhere along the way, "mostly peaceful protest" apparently became an Olympic event.
The suspect accused of setting off an incendiary device outside New York City's federal immigration office has been identified by multiple news outlets as 43 year old military veteran Andrew Arrabaca. Witnesses reportedly saw him pushing a cart bearing the familiar activist slogan, "ICE off our streets." Apparently he interpreted that message less as a policy preference and more as an item on his daily to do list. In any case, he and his cart blended right in with the city's homeless so nobody paid much attention to him at first.
Authorities say Arrabaca poured what is believed to be gasoline outside 26 Federal Plaza, stacked fireworks on top of it, and lit the whole thing. The resulting incendiary device sparked a fire outside the building.
"At approximately 8:20 AM, an anti ICE rioter launched fireworks outside of 26 Federal Plaza, grazing a bystander and poured what is believed to be gasoline on the stairs of the entrance of the building and set it on fire," the Department of Homeland Security said Monday.
"Officers quickly recovered the suspect's bag, which contained what appeared to be two pellet guns and a manifesto," the agency added.
Nothing says "my argument is well reasoned" quite like carrying a manifesto. History has been unkind to people who decide to publish their political philosophy one explosive device at a time.
According to authorities, the suspect was also carrying two axes, a hammer, a machete, and multiple knives. At this point the only thing missing was a partridge in a pear tree.
"When he was being arrested, he yelled derogatory terms to ICE, used bad words, obviously. He is an anti American, anti government extremist. We know that from what he said, we know that from what he has said post arrest, and we know that from his actions that he tried to take today," FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle Jr. said.
The New York Post reported that Arrabaca is a former U.S. Army and National Guardsman from Poughkeepsie, NY, home of the CIA [Culinary Institute of America].
Two federal employees and one civilian suffered minor injuries during the attack and were treated and released, according to Barnacle.
A Federal Protective Service officer "swiftly tackled and detained" the suspect while sustaining minor injuries, according to DHS.
The Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building houses ICE's New York field office and an immigration court. During the Trump administration it has become a frequent destination for anti ICE demonstrations. Most protesters, of course, limit themselves to signs and slogans. This suspect apparently felt that wasn't dramatic enough.
The FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident. Which seems appropriate, because when your political statement involves gasoline, fireworks, edged weapons, and a manifesto, you've wandered a very long way from civic engagement.
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