Share this @internewscast.com

An emotionally disturbed homeless man was arrested early Wednesday morning for setting fire to the Christmas tree outside Australian media company News Corporation’s Manhattan headquarters.

New York Police said Craig Tamanaha, 49, has been charged with multiple crimes, including arson, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and trespassing, WABC reported. His last known address was in Brooklyn, police said, but he is currently homeless.

Investigators say Tamanaha climbed into the 50-foot tree’s “metal superstructure” — it’s an artificial structure shaped like a tree — and set papers he’d brought with him on fire, then climbed down and watched it burn.

Security guards pointed him out to police officers who arrived on the scene.

No injuries were reported, and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said Tamanaha was someone “who is known to us.” Authorities said the fire caused $500,000 in damage.

Investigators said it didn’t appear that the fire was politically motivated, but FOX News, one of several News Corp companies housed in the building called the blaze a “malicious arson attack” in a company-wide email and vowed to install a new tree “as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this,” WNBC reported.

“We will not let this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice deter us,” FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said.

News Corp companies Dow Jones & Company, The Wall Street Journal, Storyful, and the New York Post are also headquartered in the building, as are a handful of unaffiliated companies.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast

[Featured image: Screenshot from WABC video]

Source: This post first appeared on https://www.crimeonline.com/feed/

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Stolen Truck Leads to Arrest: Suspect Faces Additional Home Invasion Charges

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two men, Aamir Jalil Sims, 30, from…

Michigan Woman Sought by Police After Throwing Scalding Coffee at McDonald’s Manager in Heated Dispute

Authorities in Michigan are on the hunt for a woman accused of…

January 6 Gunman Arrested for Kidnapping: Shocking Details Emerge

Left: John Banuelos after his October 2025 arrest (Cook County Sheriff”s Office).…

Tragic Loss: Officer Killed in Line of Duty Safeguarding North Carolina Hospital Patients and Families

In a tragic incident on Saturday morning, a police officer from Garner,…

Tragic Family Incident: Suicide Pact Turns Deadly in Shocking Case, Authorities Report

Left inset: Barbara Bates. Right inset: Neil Bates (Lee County Sheriff’s Office).…

Urgent Silver Alert: Help Locate Missing ‘At-Risk’ California Resident Today

Authorities in California are actively searching for a 69-year-old man from Inglewood…

18-Year-Old Charged Following Alleged Carjacking Spree Involving Cat Fatality and Driver Assault

An 18-year-old man is in custody after allegedly stealing two cars and…

Heartbreaking Tragedy: Infant Girl Dies Alone in Motel Baby Swing After Being Abandoned by Father

Background: Bestway Inn Motel in Muncie, Indiana (WTHR). Insets, from left: Jacob…