Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a 31-year-old Douglasville man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Atlanta. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, was described by federal prosecutors as a targeted act of political violence and terrorism against a government facility.
Inique Hinton faces federal charges of attempted arson of a federal building and depredation of government property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. If convicted of the arson charge, Hinton faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The property damage charge carries an additional maximum penalty of 10 years.
The incident took place just after 8:15 p.m. Tuesday at the ICE facility located at 180 Ted Turner Drive. Prosecutors said surveillance footage captured Hinton walking near the building shortly before he allegedly ignited an object and threw it toward the facility. The device struck an exterior fence, causing flames to spread at the site. Investigators who processed the scene recovered a glass bottle, lighter fluid, a lighter, and remnants of burned cloth.
While Atlanta police officers witnessed the attack and attempted to pursue the suspect that night, they were unable to apprehend him. The FBI subsequently took over the investigation, releasing surveillance images of a suspect and offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to an identification. Federal agents eventually tracked Hinton to a residence in Cobb County, where he was taken into custody on Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg emphasized the severity of the charges during a news conference, stating that attacks on federal property constitute an assault on democratic institutions. He noted that the specific building had been a target of similar activity approximately six years ago during the summer of 2020 and made it clear that federal law enforcement would not tolerate a return to such conditions.
While officials acknowledged the validity of public discourse regarding immigration policy, Hertzberg stated that the government would respond with extreme severity to criminal acts intended to intimidate federal personnel or damage government property. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing as federal authorities process evidence recovered during the arrest.
