NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Mayor Eric Adams connected Thursday morning’s arson blocks from a Brooklyn police precinct that left 11 NYPD vehicles torched to the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles as investigators continue to search for the masked suspect.
Fourteen vehicles total were impacted, with 11 impacted by dangerous fires in the parking lot, Adams said. Three other vehicles were found to have incendiary devices that did not light.
The vandalism took place at about 1:30 a.m. in the police parking lot located at DeKalb Avenue and Central Avenue, two blocks from the 83rd Precinct stationhouse in Bushwick.
Adams and Tisch inspected the damage on Thursday afternoon, with the mayor stating in a video posted to social media that “The message is a clear one: We are not going to allow this disruption, and the person who is responsible—we will find you. It takes a lot of courage to wear this uniform and to protect the people of this city. But a coward would burn vehicles in the middle of the night, and that coward will be apprehended.”
According to Tisch, the incendiary devices were made from unignited firstarter balls and haystack bundles, which “all are legal to possess and can be purchased at stores like Home Depot.”
Investigators said that they have video of the suspect, clad in all black and wearing a mask, hopping a fence to get into the parking lot. He fled the scene after being caught by a police officer.
“We have reason to believe that the person who participated in this act is connected to some of the protests that's taking place in Los Angeles and throughout the entire country,” Adams said without divulging details.
Protests over ICE raids in Los Angeles led to President Donald Trump mobilizing the National Guard and Marines, despite the disapproval of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The protests have sparked similar demonstrations across the country, including days of protests and roughly 100 arrests in New York City’s Foley Square this week. More rallies are expected this weekend, in addition to the national “No Kings” protest against Trump and his agenda, specifically in regards to immigration.
In his video vowing to apprehend the culprit, Adams said that while “Peaceful protest is permitted constitutionally, violence and [cowardly] actions like this is not acceptable.”