Atlanta police have arrested a 26-year-old woman for allegedly attempting to set fire to the birth home of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
According to a Friday report by the New York Post, the incident occurred on Thursday about 5:45 p.m., with the suspect pouring gasoline on the property at 501 Auburn Ave.
Video footage from the incident, captured around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, shows the woman pouring gasoline on the home’s front porch, windows, and surrounding bushes.
Two tourists from Utah, visiting the home, played a crucial role in preventing the suspect’s actions, according to police.
An eyewitness reported seeing the woman frustrated as she spread the fuel throughout the building.
Two off-duty New York Police Department officers, who were also touring the landmark, acted quickly and kept the accused arsonist until Atlanta Police arrived.
When authorities received a call regarding the incident at Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth house near the King Center, they discovered that the suspect had already been held by off-duty NYPD officers.
The police praised the Utah tourists for interfering with the woman’s conduct, emphasizing their responsibility in preserving this important piece of American history.
The lady, 26, is charged with criminal attempt arson and criminal attempt interference with government property.
