Man arrested after fire, fireworks and incendiary device incident outside New York FBI headquarters: Report

A man was taken into custody Monday morning (July 20) after he allegedly lit a fire, set off fireworks, threatened pedestrians with a firearm and threw an incendiary device outside the FBI’s New York field office in Lower Manhattan, Bloomberg reported, citing the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The incident took place in front of 26 Federal Plaza, the main federal complex that also houses the federal immigration court. Police said the suspect was taken into custody at the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

According to the NYPD, the man was pulling a cart with long guns, accessory fireworks and other items. Authorities said he lit a fire and set off fireworks while threatening people nearby with a firearm before federal police intervened.

Following the incident, the NYPD Emergency Services Unit set up a security perimeter around the building while the bomb squad was called in to examine items recovered from the suspicious cart.

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) said the fire was reported around 8:30 a.m. in the block between Worth Street and Lafayette Street. Two engine companies and two ladder companies responded to the scene and quickly brought the fire under control.

One person suffered minor injuries, according to firefighters. Officials have not released the nature of the injuries or whether the injured person is related to the incident.

Authorities have not yet identified a suspect or announced any charges. Investigators are working to determine a motive for the incident and whether the individual intended to target the federal building.