Twisted NY man who bragged he was planning to attack ICE agents with firebombs at ‘No Kings’ rally nabbed

A disturbed upstate New York man was arrested in New York City on Saturday afternoon after allegedly claiming he possessed firebombs that he intended to use at a “No Kings” protest to attack federal agents — an incident that unfolded as several anti-Trump demonstrations across the country turned unruly.

David Cox, 54, was charged with multiple terrorism-related offenses after reportedly boasting to a stranger at a Kwik Fill gas station in Owego — nearly 200 miles from Manhattan — on Friday night that he had weapons in his vehicle and planned to “fight ICE agents” at a rally in New York City, according to law enforcement sources.

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Thousands protested at massive anti-Trump rallies across the country.REUTERS

The concerned witness immediately alerted police after Cox left the station. Using a license plate reader, the NYPD tracked down Cox’s car and arrested him around 2:25 p.m. Saturday, as roughly 100,000 protesters filled the streets of Midtown Manhattan.

Authorities confirmed that no firebombs or weapons were discovered in his vehicle. Cox was charged with making a terroristic threat, filing a false report of terrorism, and making a threat of mass harm, according to police.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators participating in “No Kings” protests marched through Manhattan and cities nationwide, shouting profanities and waving crude signs aimed at President Trump and his administration. Many protesters called for the president to resign and directed particular anger at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), comparing the agency to the Ku Klux Klan.

Thousands of protesters fill Times Square during a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in New York.AP

Protestors surround a LAPD vehicle during a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.Toby Canham

Over 100,000 demonstrated in the Big Apple for the “No Kings” protest.REUTERS

While no arrests were reported in Manhattan, demonstrations in several other cities erupted into violence late Saturday. In Portland, federal officers deployed tear gas against a mob that turned aggressive, Fox News reported. The Portland Police Bureau said at least three agitators were detained following an alleged assault near a downtown immigration detention center that has been the site of recurring unrest since June.

Elsewhere, Illinois State Police arrested four protesters near an ICE facility in Broadview, about 10 miles from Chicago, after clashes between helmeted demonstrators in gas masks and law enforcement broke out after dark, according to FOX 32 Chicago.

In Los Angeles, police pursued crowds that flooded the streets, resulting in one protester being injured amid the chaos, according to photos and local reports.