The Daily Mail reports,
Police cordoned off the square as FDNY firefighters extinguished the fire.
A 49-year-old man has been arrested after he was seen climbing the tree before running away but police have not yet revealed any further information, but said they do not believe it was politically motivated.
Investigators also refused to confirm if they found an incendiary device.
The tree had been lit Sunday during an ‘all-American Christmas tree lighting’ ceremony.
JUST IN: @ShannonBream announces on @FoxNewsNight that Fox News's Christmas tree has caught fire outside their HQ on the Avenue of the Americas. pic.twitter.com/Ah0OUfTrlE
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 8, 2021
The Christmas tree outside of Fox News has caught on fire. pic.twitter.com/No7SVK0JeF
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) December 8, 2021
Man in Custody After Allegedly Lighting Christmas Tree Outside Fox News Building on Fire https://t.co/MN9iSGvgX5
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 8, 2021
Just after midnight the Christmas tree in front of Fox News in New York City went up in flames. NYPD says Fox security saw a man climbing the tree. The man was then seen running away from Fox Square but quickly arrested by police. pic.twitter.com/KEGsM95gbS
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) December 8, 2021
Fox’s Cheryl Casone tweeted that security guards at the building tackled the suspect before police arrived:
My 4am view today. Our @FoxNews Xmas tree torched. This city is a complete disaster. The security guards (who wait for me every morning) tackled the suspect https://t.co/EBzKQO7vhF
— Cheryl Casone (@cherylcasone) December 8, 2021
So will be the first blue check to say the Fox News Christmas Tree fire was an inside job?
You all already know it, just say her name in replies,
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 8, 2021