Arabic Flag Appears Mysteriously on Top of Government-Owned Texas Building

A Texas mayor wants federal officials to launch an investigation after a black banner with Arabic-style text was seen mysteriously hanging atop a government-owned building Monday.

The flag, which was draped from the roof of Citizens Tower in Lubbock, Texas, was black with a red heart in the center along with the phrase "alhab lljamie," which means "love all," an Arabic-speaking source told Fox34.

Image source: Fox34.com

The flag was stabilized by two cinderblocks, according to Lubbock Online. City Mayor Glen Robertson asked City Manager James Loomis to have the flag removed from the building, which used to be known as the Omni Building.

"I have sent Mr. Loomis an email requesting that we remove the Arabic flag from the Omni Building, that we take all steps necessary to secure the building and that Chief [Greg] Stevens notify the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and the Lubbock Sheriff’s Office," Robertson said in a statement.

He went on to say it is "premature" to draw conclusions before more facts are available, but said he believes the development should be taken seriously "in light of current national and international events."

Stevens told Fox34 that the sheriff's department had received three reports of trespassing at Citizens Tower since 2014. The building, which is largely vacant, is surrounded by construction equipment. However, the banner situation is being treated as crime of trespassing.

"Even though the message seems to be innocuous and well-meaning, that was not the best way to go about spreading the message," Councilman Victor Hernandez said.

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