Police: Man Set 40 Hindu Flags On Fire In Front Of Queens Home
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a man accused of setting dozens of Hindu flags on fire outside a home in Queens.
Police say surveillance video shows the man setting fire to 40 religious Hindu flags in front of a home in Woodhaven.
It happened just after 1 a.m. Thursday at 89th Avenue and 80th Street. No one was injured.
The incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
The suspect was wearing a three-quarter-length jacket and baseball cap and was pulling a medium-size travel bag, cops said.
One man who lives across the street from the home told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria that if the incident is a religious hatred crime, then the suspect should go to jail.
"They can't do that in this country, this is a free country," he said. "That's why we're here."
Other neighbors are worried the suspect will return and cause more harm.
"That's terrible, this is America. We have freedom of religion, freedom of speech," one woman said.
"This is a quiet area, and I'm surprised," one man said.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-8477 or to submit a tip online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com. All communications are kept confidential.
