Photo: Mel Longhurst / The Image Bank Unreleased / Getty Images
A group of anti-Israel protesters sparked outrage in New York City after defacing a World War I monument in Central Park earlier in the week.
The protesters placed pro-Palestinian stickers on the memorial and burned the American flag, while a 16-year-old spraypainted the words "Free Gaza" across the base of the monument, which features seven members of the 107th United States Infantry fighting through the Hindenburg Line.
Authorities asked the public for help identifying those responsible for defacing the monument.
One of the suspects was identified and turned in by his father. The 16-year-old, who attends Tottenville High School on Staten Island, was not identified but has been seen at other protests organized by the anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime.
"The despicable vandalism we saw earlier this week on the WWI Memorial will not be ignored, and will not go unpunished. One of the culprits was placed in handcuffs today thanks to the World's Greatest Detectives. This isn't simply juvenile hijinks- it's an act of desecration that undermines the freedoms our heroes fought and died for. If you have any information regarding this incident, call 800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTIPS," NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry wrote on X.
The teen was charged with two felony counts of criminal mischief in the third degree and two misdemeanor counts of making graffiti.