New York City Police say a 49-year-old man set fire to a 50-foot Christmas tree outside the Manhattan headquarters of Fox News early Wednesday morning (watch above).
HAPPENING NOW: Crews on the scene to extinguish fire at tree in Fox Square pic.twitter.com/q7QCey44G2
— Sean Langille (@SeanLangille) December 8, 2021
Craig Tamanaha was apprehended fleeing the scene just after midnight. He faces charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, arson, criminal nuisance endangering others, criminal trespass, criminal tampering and disorderly conduct.
Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott called the incident “a malicious arson attack.”
In a memo to employees, she said the broadcaster would “not let this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice deter us.”
Ainsley Earhardt consoles terrified Fox viewers: "Don't worry. Don't worry. Do not be deterred. We will not be. We're going to rebuild it. We're going to rebuild it and we're going to build it back better. … Someone did this to spoil our Christmas, but that's not gonna happen" pic.twitter.com/MMgIsAkycL
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) December 8, 2021
No one was injured in the fire. According to The New York Times, police say the suspect “was homeless and were investigating whether drugs or mental illness had played a factor. He was last arrested in March for smoking the synthetic drug known as K2.”
The tree was unveiled in a lighting ceremony last weekend. It was decorated with 10,000 ornaments and 100,000 lights.
On Fox & Friends, anchor Ainsley Earhardt promised that Fox would “build it back better.”
Meanwhile, Twitter was ablaze with opinions of the fire.
I told Fox it was a bad idea to schedule their tree lighting & book burning in the same place.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) December 8, 2021