Man Arrested After Israeli Flag Burned Near Columbia Campus: NYPD

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A man was arrested for allegedly igniting an Israeli flag close to Columbia University amidst ongoing pro-Palestine demonstrations, in an act that NYPD officials said is being investigated as a potential hate crime.

Authorities have confirmed the arrest of one individual believed to be involved in the attack. Police arrested Park Slope resident James Carlson, 40, on the Upper West Side on Wednesday afternoon.

Carlson is facing charges of arson, criminal mischief and criminal possession of stolen property.

Authorities said the April 20 assault unfolded about 9:55 p.m. when a 22-year-old man was walking near Amsterdam Avenue and West 116th Street in Morningside Heights, displaying an Israeli flag.

An as-yet-unidentified man then walked up and stole the flag, fleeing into a nearby crowd, police said.

Authorities reported that the owner of the flag attempted to reclaim it by rushing into the crowd of people, only to be met with a thrown rock to his face by a separate, as-yet-unidentified individual.

Amidst the chaos, another individual seized the victim's flag and proceeded to set it ablaze, authorities said.

Despite sustaining minor injuries from the assault, the victim refused medical attention, police said.

Police sources couldn't confirm if Carlson was the one who burned the victim's flag.

No further arrests have been made, and two other suspects are still on the loose. The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force is currently investigating the incident, officials said.

People with information are asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). They can also submittips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.