FBI arrests Georgia man accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at Atlanta ICE facility
Georgia Man Arrested After Alleged Molotov Cocktail Attack on Atlanta ICE Facility
ATLANTA – A 31‑year‑old man from Douglasville, Georgia, was taken into custody on Thursday after prosecutors say he threw a Molotov cocktail at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Atlanta last Tuesday night. The incident, which authorities are describing as an act of terrorism, took place just before 8:15 p.m. at 180 Ted Turner Drive, where the federal facility houses ICE investigators and staff.
Security footage from the building’s cameras captured the suspect walking toward the structure before the device was ignited and hurled at the exterior fence. The incendiary device, made from a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid and a lighter, caused flames to ignite on the fence and spread to nearby debris. Investigators recovered remnants of the attack—including burned cloth, the bottle, a lighter and a packet of lighter fluid—at the scene.
“An attack on federal property is an attack against our democracy. It is an act of terrorism. It is an act of political violence, and it cannot stand,” U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. He added that the FBI had apprehended the suspect in Cobb County and that the case would be prosecuted with “extreme severity” to send a clear message that such violent tactics will not be tolerated.
Hertzberg also recalled that the same ICE office in Atlanta had been targeted in a 2020 incident when a pipe bomb exploded outside the building. “I want to make very clear we are not going back to that,” he said. “We will not tolerate attacks on government property and attacks against federal law enforcement.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Hinton—whose full name is Inique Hinton—faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted of attempted arson. The charge of depredation of government property could add up to 10 more years.
Atlanta police first responded to the scene after the flames broke out and attempted to track Hinton that night, but they were unable to secure him. The FBI later released unidentified images of the suspect and offered a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to his identification and arrest.
The investigation remains active. Prosecutors say they are reviewing additional surveillance footage and forensic evidence to determine the suspect’s motives and whether anyone else may have been involved. Hinton’s arrest marks a swift response by federal authorities following the attack, which occurred during a period of heightened political tension over immigration policy.
As officials continue to investigate, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by federal facilities across the country. The federal government has reiterated its commitment to protecting its properties and personnel from violent acts, emphasizing that political disagreement does not justify criminal or terrorist actions.
