PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Petersburg police are investigating after a person was caught on camera using a flamethrower to torch a Pan-African flag flying on a pole outside the headquarters of a Black international socialist group based in Florida.
Authorities were called to the Uhuru house Saturday around 10:15 a.m. to investigate the incident which happed near the intersection of 13th Street South and 18th Avenue South, in St. Petersburg.
Lightning strike knocks boy out of boat in Riverview
Security video released by the Uhuru Movement showed the driver of a white sedan park outside the group’s St. Petersburg headquarters before they pulled a flamethrower from the car’s trunk.
The person then lights the flame and shoots a tower of fire at the flag flying roughly 30 feet above the ground. The group told the Associated Press the driver stopped when a worker inside the building yelled at him.
Authorities said there was no damage to the surrounding area and there were no reported injuries.
Detectives said they are working to identify a suspect. Police did not immediately release additional information.
A person with a flamethrower was caught on camera burning a flag outside the Uhuru House in St. Pete Saturday morning (Credit: Burning Spear Media)
A person with a flamethrower was caught on camera burning a flag outside the Uhuru House in St. Pete Saturday morning (Credit: Burning Spear Media)Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Petersburg Police Dept. at (727) 893-7780 or text “SPPD” plus your tip to TIP411.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
