Woman held for attempting to torch ​Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home in Atlanta

Atlanta police on Thursday arrested a woman for attempting to burn down Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home with gasoline.

The woman, 26, whose name has not been revealed, has been booked for criminal attempt to commit arson and criminal attempt to damage government property. She is likely to face federal charges in connection with the incident, the police said.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told mediapersons that two tourists from Utah told cops they saw a woman attempting to douse the porch, front door of the home with what smelled like gasoline before they stopped her to ignite a lighter.


He said that two off-duty New York City cops, who were visiting the city, detained the woman until the Atlanta Police officers arrived shortly after 5:45 pm.

Acording to Fox 5 Atlanta, a video footage showed the woman being detained on the ground by the officers

Talking about the incident, Atlanta Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry said the house could have caught fire in a matter of seconds after the fuel was poured. The fire department has cleaned up the gasoline from the property, he added.

The home, which is located just blocks from the King Center, King National Historical Park, and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, is currently under renovation and would be closed to visitors until 2025.

Built in 1895, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home holds significant historical importance, serving as a pivotal site for commemorating the formative years of Martin Luther King Jr. and his siblings.