On Thursday morning, a suspected arson incident occurred in a parking lot in Brooklyn, where at least 11 New York City Police Department (NYPD) vehicles were destroyed by fire, and multiple unexploded explosive devices were found on the scene. The police reported that two masked individuals were seen fleeing the scene after the incident, and efforts are underway to track down those involved.
The incident took place around 1:30 am on June 12 at a parking lot located at the intersection of Central Ave and DeKalb Ave in Bushwick, just one block away from the 83rd Police Precinct. Upon receiving reports of multiple vehicles on fire, the police and fire department quickly arrived at the scene.
Mayor Adams of New York City confirmed in a press conference on the same day that a total of 11 police vehicles were burned, with another 14 vehicles sustaining varying degrees of damage, fortunately with no injuries reported. He denounced the incident as “unacceptable acts of destruction” and pledged that the city would spare no efforts in apprehending the perpetrators.
According to the New York Post, law enforcement also discovered three unexploded explosive devices at the scene, which were placed on several vehicles. The devices appeared to be homemade improvised incendiary bombs with fuses attached.
Surveillance footage obtained by the New York Post from a nearby building showed a man dressed in black moving a wooden table to the edge of the parking lot, checking the surroundings before climbing over the fence and entering the lot.
Residents living near the scene described the suspect as short, skinny, and proficient in their actions, showing familiarity with the local terrain.
While the police have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the crime, flyers were found posted on a wall not far from the 83rd precinct, alleging that police officers at the precinct forcibly dispersed a Puerto Rican heritage festival on Sunday night, resulting in multiple injuries among the attendees. The flyers called for resistance against law enforcement and mentioned anti-ICE protests and global anti-Israel demonstrations.
Mayor Adams emphasized, “It takes courage to put on a uniform, but destroying public property only requires cowardice and malice. We will not allow chaos to reign in this city.”
The case is currently being jointly investigated by the New York City Police Department and the Fire Department, with authorities urging the public to provide any information that may assist in solving the case. The Crime Stoppers hotline can be reached at 1-800-577-8477, and all calls will be kept strictly confidential.