Douglasville Man Charged with Attempted Arson of ICE Facility in Downtown Atlanta

ATLANTA - Inique Hinton, a Douglasville, Georgia resident, was arrested today on federal charges after he allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the Atlanta Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building earlier this week.

"Attacking a federal building with an incendiary device like a Molotov cocktail is a despicable, terroristic crime that warrants an immediate and severe response," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "My office will relentlessly investigate, pursue, and prosecute any act of arson targeting government institutions and will ensure that the perpetrators bear the full consequences of their actions."

"Those who attack our government buildings with fire and violence will be held accountable," said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "The FBI stands with our law enforcement partners to defend our communities while respecting everyone's first amendment rights."

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: on October 20, 2026, at approximately 8:12 p.m., security cameras allegedly captured Hinton walking near the ICE building at 180 Ted Turner Drive in downtown Atlanta. Minutes later, Hinton allegedly ignited an item and threw it toward the ICE building, striking the exterior fence and causing flames to spread. Afterwards, investigators recovered burned cloth, lighter fluid, a glass bottle, and a lighter at the scene.

Today, a federal magistrate judge issued a criminal complaint charging Inique Hinton, 31, of Douglasville, Georgia, with attempted arson of a federal building and depredation of government property. Several hours later, Hinton was arrested at a Cobb County residence.

Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Atlanta Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Dashene Cooper is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.