Police released a photo of a keffiyeh-wearing protester wanted for allegedly setting fire to an American flag during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of the city’s World War I memorial earlier this week. .
Police said the unidentified man raised a flag when a 48-year-old woman waved it during a disorderly demonstration at Fifth Avenue and East 67th Street around 6:30 p.m. Monday. He is wanted on suspicion of setting a flag on fire and stealing the flag from a woman.
The man in the photo is barely visible as his Palestinian scarf covers most of his face.
The suspect who burned the flag is described as a man with fair skin and a medium build. Police said the man was last seen wearing a red shirt, black pants and a black book bag.
On Friday, police announced that a 16-year-old anti-Israel protester suspected of vandalizing the 107th Infantry Monument at the same protest had been arrested.
He was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and graffiti, a misdemeanor.
The bronze monument depicts seven World War I infantrymen in action.
Several other protesters were captured on video climbing on top of the infantry while waving Palestinian flags.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website. https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
