A federal grand jury has indicted the man accused of a "calculated, targeted and unacceptably dangerous" attack on a New York City federal building on a single count of arson. The indictment, handed up Tuesday, charges former Army private Andrew Arrabaca with using a flammable liquid to ignite a fire at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in Manhattan.
According to the indictment, Arrabaca threw a firework into the fire, which exploded, and also set off fireworks at the building. These actions caused injury to at least one person and posed a substantial risk of injury to others, including federal employees, security guards, and emergency personnel who responded to the incident.
Surveillance video captured the man, identified as Arrabaca, wearing a helmet, lighting fireworks, pouring gasoline onto a stairwell and igniting it, and then firing a BB rifle. He was ultimately tackled by a security guard. Prosecutors stated that Arrabaca began planning the July 20 attack in January, purchasing a pellet gun and BB gun upstate and fireworks in Pennsylvania. Investigators also learned that Arrabaca considered other locations in the city before selecting a busy employee entrance at 26 Federal Plaza.
Arrabaca has not yet entered a plea, and an arraignment date has not been scheduled.