What to Know
- Police say they're investigating a possible anti-gay bias crime after pride flags were set on fire at the entrance of a gay bar in Harlem
- A police spokesman says the rainbow flags were burned just after midnight last Friday at the Alibi Lounge
- The NYPD released a photo of a person of interest in the case early Tuesday morning
Rainbow flags were set on fire at the entrance of a gay bar in Harlem on the eve of Pride Month, and police released a photo and video of a person of interest in the case early Tuesday morning.
The NYPD did not offer any identifying information about the man, but asked the public to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) if anyone recognized him from the photo.
The new survellance video shows the man taking his time to ensure both flags were lit and burning before fleeing the scene.
They were burned just after midnight last Friday at the Alibi Lounge, a day before the start of the city's Pride Month celebrations, a police spokesman said.
On its Instagram, the business bills itself as the only black-owned gay lounge in Harlem, serving food and drinks.
Photos of the scorched, multicolored flags were posted widely online.
Local
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he was directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the NYPD in the investigation. The incident came just days before an LGBTQ flag was flown above the state capitol building for the first time in New York history.
No one was injured and rain extinguished the flames.
