Fox News Christmas tree set on fire in Manhattan

Man was arrested on charges including criminal mischief, arson and trespassing

The artificial tree outside of the News Corp building caught fire shortly after midnight, police said. AP

A man was charged with arson and other crimes on Wednesday for setting fire to a 15-metre Christmas tree in front of Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan, police said.

The artificial tree outside of the News Corp building, which houses Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, caught fire shortly after midnight, authorities reported.

Photos and videos from the scene show the fully decorated tree going up in flames.

Fox News host Shannon Bream announced the fire to viewers as firefighters worked to put it out.

“This is the Fox Square in New York, outside of Fox headquarters,” Bream said. “It appears that our giant Christmas tree there, just a couple of minutes ago, was completely engulfed in flames.”

Firefighters extinguished the flames and no injuries were reported.

A man has been arrested on charges including criminal mischief, arson and trespassing. It was not clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on the charges.

Police said the man had a lighter, but it was not known whether any accelerant was used.

The tree had been ceremonially lit during a network Christmas special on Sunday. Its charred remains were in the process of being dismantled on Wednesday.

“We will not let this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice deter us,” Fox News Media chief executive Suzanne Scott told network staffers in a memo.

Ms Scott said a new tree would be installed “as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this".

A lighting ceremony will also be held for the new tree, Ms Scott said.