July 21 (UPI) — A 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran is accused of setting off fireworks, igniting a large blaze and brandishing an airsoft rifle out front of a lower Manhattan federal building in what authorities have said is an anti-government attack.

The incident occurred Monday morning out front of lower Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza, where a federal immigration court and several government agencies, including the FBI’s New York field office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are located.

Authorities said during a press conference that the suspect, Andrew Arrabaca of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. was detained shortly before 9 a.m. by federal protective services members and a security contractor. FBI agents then swiftly took Arrabaca into custody and he was interviewed by FBI agents.

Two government employees and a civilian suffered minor injuries in the incident, according to James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, who identified the wounded civilian as an immigrant on the premises for an immigration hearing.

Arrabaca allegedly told authorities in a post-arrest interview that he was “targeting the building and he was okay if he hurt or killed people going in and out of the federal building, whether they were federal employees or civilians,” Barnacle said.

“Mr. Arrabaca came armed with bad intentions,” Barnacle said. “Mr. Arrabaca was looking to injure people and harm people.”

New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the entire incident occurred within view of an NYPD camera.

She said Arrabaca arrived shortly before 8:30 a.m. and allegedly ignited “a bundle of what appears to be fireworks.” He then went to the cart, pulled out the airsoft rifle and fired several pellets. Afterward, he pulled an orange bucket from the cart, ran toward bushes along the building and dumped its contents, seemingly an incendiary liquid, on the ground, which he then ignited.

While a motive was not made public, Barnacle described Arrabaca as an “anti-American, anti-government extremist.”

Barnacle accused Arrabaca of being a critic of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating that the cart that Arrabaca allegedly used in the incident had a sign attached to it that read, “ICE off our streets.”

Authorities said Arrabaca was wearing a military-style helmet during the incident and that they confiscated two axes, two airsoft rifles, a container with a flammable liquid, a hammer, a machete, at least three knives, and six incendiary devices or fireworks as well as other so-called “destructive” items. It was not clear which of the items were potentially on Arrabaca’s person when he was arrested or in the cart.

Barnacle identified Arrabaca as a former U.S. Army soldier who served from 2001 to 2005 and repaired Patriot missile systems. His last known address was in Harlem, authorities said.

Police also found his black Toyota RAV4 parked on West 124th Street near Broadway and were working to secure a search warrant, Tisch said.

Charges have yet to be filed, Tisch said. Authorities said the NYPD and the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force were continuing to collect evidence and conduct interviews.

The incident prompted officials to cancel a naturalization ceremony scheduled for Monday at the building.

“What occurred outside 26 Federal Plaza this morning is deeply disturbing,” NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement.

“I’m relieved no one was seriously injured and that a suspect is in custody. My team is in touch with the NYPD and we will support the federal investigation.”