Two empty police cars are set on fire in the Flatiron district of New York as officers begin the search for the arsonist
- An arsonist set fire to two parked NYPD cars before fleeing
- A man, whose identity is not yet known, approached parked police vehicles in the Flatiron district and set them on fire.
- One of the cars was clearly marked as a police vehicle, while the other was not.
New York police are on the hunt for an arsonist who torched two police cars in the city’s Flatiron district Monday night.
The photos show the burned-out shell of the cars with several of the windows broken.
The targeted attack took place around the corner from several tourist hotels, including the recently opened Ritz Carlton Nomad.
A man, whose identity has not yet been determined, approached the two parked vehicles in Manhattan.
Both cars were set on fire near the intersection of 29th Street and Sixth Avenue, around 8:40 p.m.
One of the burned cars was conspicuously marked as a police vehicle, while the other was an unmarked unit.
An arsonist set fire to two parked NYPD cars before fleeing
A man, whose identity is not yet known, approached parked police vehicles in the Flatiron district and set them on fire.
Garbage piles were also set on fire around the corner from where the patrols were fired.
This was the scene on West 28th Street in the Flatiron district where police investigated several deliberately set garbage fires in the area.
One of the cars was clearly marked as a police vehicle, while the other was not.
Emergency services, including firefighters, rushed to the scene, after which they managed to extinguish the flames.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
The disturbing events came as the city was preparing for potential demonstrations and civil unrest related to potential criminal charges the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has filed against former President Donald Trump.
The legal proceedings have attracted significant attention and led the former president to encourage his supporters to take to the streets and protest against his possible arrest.
It is believed that the arsonist after setting the cars on fire also started several garbage fires.
Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene to put out the car and garbage fires.
Police are also seen at 45 West 29th street in the Flatiron district investigating several deliberately set trash fires in the area.
Both cars were set on fire near the intersection of 29th Street and Sixth Avenue, at 8:40 p.m.
The disturbing events came as the city became a hotspot for potential demonstrations and civil unrest related to possible criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.
The area where the cars caught fire was cordoned off by emergency services
At present, there is no evidence to suggest that the burning of police cars on Monday night is related to any protest, but law enforcement officials remain vigilant and are looking for a number of leads.
In a separate, but possibly related case, a garbage can was also set on fire, just around the corner on Sixth Avenue, also on Monday night.
The police believe that the same person may well be responsible for both the police car fires and the garbage fire.
So far no arrests have been made in connection with the incidents.
It is also believed that the arsonist used garbage to set the cars on fire.
Police believe that the same person may be responsible for both the police car fires and the garbage fires.
In a separate, but possibly related case, a garbage can was also set on fire, just around the corner on Sixth Avenue, also on Monday night.
So far, no arrests have been made in connection with the events.