A woman attempted to burn down Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace, arriving with a gas canister and dousing the historic property with fuel Thursday.
Video of the brazen attempt shows a woman dressed all in black pouring gasoline freely on the home’s porch, windows and bushes around 5:45 p.m., WSB-TV reported.
Two tourists from Utah who saw the house were able to intervene to apprehend the suspect, police said.
A witness recalled that the suspect began to become irritated after she had trouble spreading the fuel around the property, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
The alleged arsonist was quickly detained by two off-duty NYPD officers who had been visiting the historic monument and held until Atlanta police arrived.
The off-duty officers pounced on the suspect after she pulled out a lighter and tried to light it.
The suspect pours gasoline on the front windows of the historic home. WSBTV The suspect’s name has not yet been released by police. WSBTV
The suspect, 26, has been charged with criminal attempted arson and criminal attempted interference with government property.
Police have not released his name.
“That action saved an important part of American history tonight,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told WSB-TV.
Atlanta Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry revealed that the house could have burned in moments if it had not been for witnesses who intervened to stop it.
“It could have been a matter of seconds before the house was engulfed in flames,” DeBerry told WSB-TV.
Off-duty NYPD officers pounced on the suspect after she pulled out a lighter and tried to light it. WSBTV
The Atlanta Police Department said it is working with the District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI in the investigation of the attempted arson.
The house is under the care of the National Park Service, which acquired the property from the King family in 2018, and has been closed to tourists since November due to ongoing renovations.
“Tonight, an unfortunate incident occurred at the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when an individual attempted to set fire to this historic property,” the King Center reported. wrote in a statement Tuesday night.
“Fortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful thanks to the brave intervention of the good Samaritans and the quick response of the authorities.”
The suspect has been charged with criminal attempted arson and criminal attempted interference with government property. WSBTV The historic house will be under renovation until the end of 2025. Getty Images
The King Center thanked the quick response of Atlanta police and firefighters before adding, “Our prayers are with the person who allegedly committed this criminal act.”
The historic home was built in 1895 and has been a cherished landmark in the community and nation for remembering the life of the civil rights icon.
King was born in the house on Jan. 15, 1929, and lived there for his first 12 years, according to the National Park Service.
The house is about three miles east of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn