Philadelphia: Man in custody for vandalism of Israeli flag

An Israeli flag hanging along a major boulevard in Philadelphia was vandalized.

By: AP

A man accused of splattering red paint on an Israeli flag in a public place in Philadelphia has been taken into custody.

Laura Frank, an employee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, told the Philadelphia Inquirer she saw a man standing near the flag with a paint gun on Tuesday and called the police.

Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney confirmed a suspect was taken into custody and decried the vandalism as hateful.

Kenney said “emotions are running high” after Palestinians rioting on the Gaza border on Monday were killed by IDF fire.

The vandalism suspect’s name hasn’t been released. The flag hangs along a major boulevard as part of a display of world flags.