Police released video Tuesday evening of a man suspected of hanging Turkish flags at an Armenian school in the San Fernando Valley, one of two such incidents where Turkish flags were left on or near an Armenian school, and asked for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
The suspect was described as a man, approximately 5-feet-8 inches to 5-feet-11 inches tall, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was wearing a black mask, black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes, police said.
Numerous flags were found at Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School at 5300 White Oak Ave. in Encino and at AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in the 6844 of Oakdale Ave. in Canoga Park.
The hanging of flags at Holy Martyrs was being investigated as a possible hate crime because whoever did it trespassed onto the grounds. The flags were hung outside the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian campus, making that case a possible “hate incident,” according to LAPD Officer Jeff Lee.
The Turkish Ottoman Empire is blamed for the deaths of more than one million Armenians about a century ago. Turkey denies allegations of genocide.
“To put a Turkish flag on an Armenian institution would equate to putting a swastika in a synagogue or something like that,” AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School Principal Arpi Avanesian told ABC7.
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian issued a statement calling the targeted schools “sanctuaries of safety, education, culture and dream-building for thousands of young students” and “institutions that are cherished by parents and educators and our entire community,” including the councilman’s own family.
“This grotesque orchestrated attack on these schools is a disgusting act of hate, designed to terrorize children and an entire community,” Krekorian said.
Police have pledged that the perpetrators would be pursued and steps taken to ensure students are safe, Krekorian said.
Anyone with information about this incident was asked to call LAPD West Valley Detective Division at (818) 374-7730 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.