Pride Flags Burned Again Outside Harlem Gay Bar, Owner Says

HARLEM, NY — A hateful vandal has once again burned a set of rainbow pride flags displayed outside of a Harlem gay bar, the business owner and police said.

Alibi Lounge owner Alexi Minko posted a photo of the burned flags on the bar's Instagram page early Monday morning with a caption: "Sad to report that few weeks after the first incident, someone has once again set our pride flags on fire! We simply have no words!" The flag that was burned had been donated to the business after a vandal burned the previous set of flags outside the bar on the eve of June, which is LGBT Pride Month.

The business is located on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard between 138th and 139th Streets.

Police believe the same man wanted in connection with the first vandalism may be responsible for the latest attack on the bar. The suspect used a lighter to set two rainbow flags on fire outside of the Alibi Lounge shortly after midnight on May 31, according to surveillance video released by the NYPD. The NYPD hate crimes unit has been investigating the initial vandalism.

The vandalism also earned a strong rebuke from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who directed the state police's hate crimes task force to assist in the NYPD investigation.

For Minko, the repeat attack was especially shocking considering the presence of the NYPD at the bar. The business owner spoke with CBS News early Monday morning.

"Since it happened — I have to say — we have had the protection of the NYPD who have been sitting in front of our door regularly. And tonight, I simply cannot grasp or understand that fact that it happened again," Minko told CBS News.