Georgia Man Arrested for Alleged Molotov Cocktail Attack on ICE Building

Federal authorities apprehended a 31-year-old man from Georgia on Thursday. The arrest followed accusations of him throwing a Molotov cocktail at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Atlanta earlier in the week. Prosecutors labeled the incident as an “act of terrorism.”

Details of the Incident

The accused, Inique Hinton from Douglasville, faces charges of attempted arson of a federal building and damaging government property. These charges come from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. According to U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg, such attacks are not only terrorist acts but also threats to democracy. “An attack on federal property is an act of political violence, and it cannot stand,” he emphasized during a news conference.

Prosecutors stated that security cameras recorded Hinton near the ICE building at 180 Ted Turner Drive shortly before 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Minutes after, he allegedly lit an object and threw it at the facility, which struck the outer fence and caused a fire.

Evidence and Arrest

Investigators found a burned cloth, lighter fluid, a glass bottle, and a lighter at the location. The FBI arrested Hinton on Thursday at a residence in Cobb County.

Hertzberg noted, “This was obviously an attack directed at the ICE facility.” He stated that prosecutors would respond “with extreme severity” to the attack. “We need to send the message that this is not OK,” he added, underscoring the importance of civil discourse on immigration instead of resorting to criminal acts.

Previous Incidents and Legal Consequences

This incident is not the first time the Atlanta ICE building has been targeted. It faced attacks approximately six years ago during the summer of 2020. “We will not tolerate attacks on government property and attacks against federal law enforcement,” Hertzberg stated. Though Atlanta police witnessed the incident and attempted to chase the suspect, apprehension occurred later. The FBI released images of the unidentified suspect and offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his identification and arrest.

Hinton, if convicted of attempted arson, faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The charge for damaging government property could add a maximum of 10 years to that sentence.

The investigation by authorities is still ongoing.