NYPD Sees Art, Not Terror, in Brooklyn Bridge Flag Swap

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The New York City Police Department cited art not terrorism as a possible motive of the people who put bleached-out American flags atop the Brooklyn Bridge where the Stars and Stripes usually fly.

The replacements were discovered this morning on the towers at opposite ends of the bridge and were removed, police said. Deputy Police Commissioner John Miller said the incident had “no particular nexus” to terrorism or politics.

“This may be somebody’s art project or an attempt to make some sort of statement, but at this time it’s not clear what that statement is,” Miller told a packed news briefing at police headquarters.

Surveillance video shows a group of at least four or five people crossing the bridge around 3:10 a.m., Miller said. They are of interest to police because shortly afterward the lights illuminating the flags flickered and went out. Police later discovered the beacons had been covered with aluminum pans.

At least some of perpetrators had experience with climbing for construction or other work, Miller said.

“This is a security breach and of concern,” he said.

Reports of the incident and photos went viral on the Internet today and the story appeared on the top of the Drudge Report news website. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former police officer, said in a statement that he plans to offer a reward for information related to the arrest of suspects.

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