Shocking moment vandals rip down LGBT Pride flags in a shopping centre - as one uses a crutch to drag them to the ground before 'burning them'
- CCTV footage in Olympia Shopping Arcade, Kirkcaldy, Scotland caught two men
- One of the men uses a crutch to help his friend reach the flags and remove them
- They dump them in a heap and pictures emerged of one of the banners burned
- The flags were put up by the centre the day before to support LGBT Pride month
Disturbing footage has emerged of homophobic vandals ripping down LGBT Pride flags in a shopping centre - which had been put up just hours earlier.
CCTV shots from the Olympia Shopping Arcade in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, catches the two men as they persevere to rip the flags down last Friday.
One of the men uses a crutch to help his friend reach the flags and remove them, before dumping them on the ground in a heap.
A shop's CCTV in the Olympia Shopping Arcade in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, catches the two men as they persevere to rip the LGBT flags down last Friday (pictured)
Pictures uploaded on social media appear to show one of the banners had been burned and left.
They had been put up by the shopping centre the day before the attack to show support for LGBT Pride month.
The clip of the vandals was posted to the shopping centre's Facebook page in an attempt to name and shame the culprits on Friday.
It was captioned: 'So here we are trying to brighten up the arcade as it's pride month!
One of the men uses a crutch (left) to help his friend reach the flags and remove them before dumping them on the ground in a heap
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'We put up five pride flags and today during broad daylight some people took exception to our flags and not only took them down but burned them too!
'It's pathetic! It's our arcade, we pay our rent, we look after our businesses and we help each other out so if we want to put flags up, that's our business to!'
The post continued: 'Don't damage people's private property when you are on CCTV!
'We don't deserve this. More flags will go up and we will battle through!
'So the police are being contacted with not only the details, but obviously the video too.'
The crutch lowers the flag just enough for the other man to haul it to the floor, and the same actions are carried out on the neighbouring flag
The men enter the tunnel stretching through the arcade and one of them - holding a drink - spots the flags above his head.
He takes a running jump in a bid to rip it down but is unable to reach, so his friend uses his crutch to hook the flags.
The crutch lowers the flag just enough for the other man to haul it to the floor, and the same actions are carried out on the neighbouring flag.
Pictures uploaded on social media appear to show one of the banners had been burned and left on the ground
Their actions were described as a 'hate crime' by the shopping centre, alongside an image of the burned material.
Social media users condemned the actions of the callous vandals.
Katy Ovenstone commented: 'This behaviour is vile. I hope a judge makes a real example of them for their hate crime, totally disgusting.'
And Ann Moffet wrote: 'Total wasters, no respect.'
Some specifically hit out at the man using the crutch.
And Stuart Telfer added: 'Bless that disabled guy. He wanted that flag so much he forgot he was disabled. It's a miracle.'
In further updates to the post since Friday, it is claimed the vandals had been identified and the matter was being dealt with.
LGBT Pride month is celebrated throughout June and several events take place globally to raise awareness.
Kirkcaldy is set to host its second Fife Pride parade on July 6.
