A large banner bearing the image of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the word “peacemaker” was hung from the Manhattan Bridge in New York City on Thursday.
The 6-by-9-meter banner showed the Russian leader in front of his country’s flag when it was unfurled on the landmark East River bridge that connects Manhattan to Brooklyn.
Photos of the banner quickly began trending on social media.
Police officers removed it within an hour of when it was first reported. There have been no arrests, but police are looking at surveillance video on the bridge and in nearby areas to identify a suspect.
Tensions between Washington and Moscow have remained high in recent months.
