Following the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary, a number of foreign suspects were arrested for tearing down Hungarian and Israeli flags early in the morning on Sunday.
Two Spaniards were arrested at 5:10 a.m. for removing a Hungarian flag from the Chain Bridge in Budapest. The suspects were arrested for disturbing public order, the Hungarian police announced.
In addition, two French suspects were arrested in the early morning hours for ripping down 17 Israeli flags from the Chain Bridge at 4:00 a.m., and some were thrown into the Danube River.
“Minutes later, they were arrested by the police and taken to the 5th District Police Station,” where they were questioned as suspects, the police statement said, according to El Mundo.
“The Budapest 5th Police District Headquarters has ordered an investigation into alleged vandalism and theft for the tearing down and damaging of 17 Israeli flags,” the Hungarian police explained.
It is unclear what the motive was for the flags being torn down, but the incident coincided with Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest. The Israeli leader is currently wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The comments on the Spanish newspaper covering the story were almost universally negative towards the perpetrators.
“There must be some Iberian red everywhere who like to put their ‘feet in the soup.’ Make them take the flag out of the river and wash it by hand, see if they learn manners and respect,” wrote one user.
“That’s how you hate, you weren’t taught respect and manners at home or at school,” wrote another.
Another wrote: “Well, respect for flags is paid for. It should be in today’s democracy, where freedom has been put before respect for the country and the person. Let him spend a few days in prison. Lucky they’re not in Afghanistan, they’d be stoned.”
