The American flags placed above the Brooklyn Bridge were apparently bleached into white flags Tuesday morning, leaving New Yorkers and law enforcement authorities baffled as to who or why anyone would do such a thing.

According to theAssociated Press, the New York Police Department believes a group of four or five people is responsible for the incident. Security footage reportedly shows the suspects walking along the bridges footpath around 3:10 a.m. About 20 minutes later, the light on the bridges Brooklyn tower goes dark, while the light on the Manhattan tower goes out 12 minutes after that.

The NYPDs deputy commissioner for counterterrorism and intelligence, John Miller, said that authorities do not suspect a link to terrorism, a sentiment that was backed up by Police Commissioner William Bratton.

The incident raised concerns about lax security at one of the United States most famous landmarks, particularly since the site is subject to widespread security in the form of 24-hour surveillance by patrol cars as well as cameras at the base of the bridge. Additionally, the trespassers also had to scale a bridge cable and locked gate in order to gain access to the top of the towers.

It amazes me nobody saw anything...Im upset, bridge painter Nick Krevatas, who was called to switch the white flags with American ones on Tuesday, said to the Post. Isnt there a better way to express yourself, couldnt they have used social media?

Logistics aside, the purpose served by replacing American flags with white ones remains unclear. Police dont suspect that politics are a motivating factor, but they did not rule out the possibility that its all part of some kind of art project.