>
NYPD search for red-haired arsonist who set fire to Soho restaurant’s Pride flag in the middle of the night and set fire to the front
- A redheaded woman was seen setting fire to the Pride flag at a restaurant in New York
- Images obtained from The Little Prince restaurant captured the hate crime
- Disappointed resident called arson a ‘step back’
New York City police are on the hunt for a redheaded arsonist who set fire to the gay pride flag at a Soho restaurant in the middle of the night.
Surveillance footage showed the woman getting out of a white SUV outside The Little Prince restaurant around 1 a.m. Monday.
The woman approached the banner that read ‘Make America Gay Again’ with her lighter and set it on fire before running back to the passenger side of the vehicle.
Residents living above the French restaurant were forced to evacuate when firefighters put out the fire. No injuries were reported and the building was only slightly burned.
Authorities are treating the case as a hate crime.
Police are on the hunt for a redheaded arsonist who set fire to the gay pride flag at a Soho restaurant in the middle of the night. She was seen getting out of the passenger side of a white SUV.
The restaurant was seen on fire from the outside after firefighters put out the fire.
The woman, who was seen on the surveillance camera, is being sought by police officers. Officials are also investigating the incident as a hate crime.
The French restaurant has been targeted by vandals before, and a worker recalls a separate incident in which a person tried to rob it.
The employee was not identified but told ABC 7 they were “hurt” by witnessing hate crime in the city where they live and work.
‘To be part of this, to be a witness, to work here and make it happen, that’s my job. This is where I make money and this is also where I have a house,’ the employee told ABC 7.
“So take that away from me, I’m confused and hurt, and I don’t know how to feel about it.”
A resident who lives above The Prince Restaurant was also shocked to learn why she had to evacuate early in the morning.
“I can’t believe something like this happened last night, so I think we started going down the wrong path,” Stu Matz told the news outlet.
“This is a really nice neighborhood where everyone respects each other and that’s not something that should happen here.”
“Unfortunately, the hate exists so I don’t know what to say, it’s heartbreaking,” added Asli Fevzi.
The woman was seen approaching the banner that read ‘Make America Gay Again’ in front of The Prince restaurant.
Then he hurried back to the white van. It is not clear who was the driver of the vehicle.
The fire was seen slowly starting outside the restaurants as several cars passed by.
Residents living above the restaurant had to temporarily evacuate when the fire was put out.