Man allegedly filmed hurling firebomb at Atlanta ICE building is arrested after fence fire
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA: A 31-year-old Georgia man has been arrested on federal charges after surveillance footage allegedly captured him lighting an incendiary device and hurling it toward an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in downtown Atlanta.
The incident occurred on October 20, when the device struck an exterior fence and sparked flames.
Inique Hinton was taken into custody on Friday, October 23, as federal investigators pursued the case.
Arrested! FBI Atlanta this afternoon arrested Inique Hinton, from Douglasville, on federal charges after he allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the Atlanta Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building earlier this week. More details here: https://t.co/rjKe8Nuyjw @NDGAnews @HSIAtlanta
— FBI Atlanta (@FBIAtlanta) October 24, 2026
Suspect accused of firebomb attack
Surveillance footage reportedly placed Inique Hinton near Atlanta’s ICE facility at 180 Ted Turner Drive at 8.12 pm on October 20, according to a criminal complaint released by the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Prosecutors allege that Hinton set an object alight before throwing it toward the federal building. It hit the perimeter fence, triggering a fire that spread along the structure.
The items collected by investigators included a glass bottle, a lighter, lighter fluid and a piece of burned cloth.
Hinton, a Douglasville resident, was taken into custody at a Cobb County home hours after a federal magistrate judge issued a criminal complaint against him.
He faces two charges: attempted arson of a federal building and depredation of government property.
US Attorney Theodore S Hertzberg described the alleged attack as a serious crime and pledged to pursue prosecution.
“Attacking a federal building with an incendiary device like a Molotov cocktail is a despicable, t******stic crime that warrants an immediate and severe response,” Hertzberg said.
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham likewise said perpetrators of attacks on government property would be held responsible, while stressing the need to safeguard First Amendment rights.
“Those who attack our government buildings with fire and violence will be held accountable,” Graham said.
Speaking to reporters after Hinton’s arrest, FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shawn Matthews said “violent behavior towards ICE will not be tolerated.”
The FBI is investigating the incident alongside the Atlanta Police Department.
ICE faces rising security threats
The Atlanta incident comes amid a reported increase in assaults against federal immigration officers.
The Department of Homeland Security said 647 assaults against ICE personnel were recorded between January 20, 2025, and September 20, 2026, compared with 37 during the corresponding period under the previous administration, registering a staggering 1647% jump in attacks.
Despite rising threats, ICE has continued its operations, apprehending undocumented immigrants across the country, including individuals with criminal convictions or pending charges.
The agency also works with federal, state and local law enforcement to apprehend foreign fugitives and investigate serious threats.
Federal figures show that between October 1, 2025, and August 11, 2026, ICE removed 215,447 people who had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, according to a government filing.
The category includes both convictions and unresolved charges, which are legally distinct.
