Police release video of suspect and person interest after noose found

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Police released surveillance video of a suspect and a person of interest after a noose was found outside of Graduate Hospital.

On Friday morning, a witness notified Penn Medicine Security that she found a noose outside of Graduate Hospital at 18th and Lombard Street.

The noose was placed on the limb of a tree along the street near where the medical center is located. Officials cleared the scene, and the noose was recovered.

When reached out to for comment, a Penn Medicine spokesperson gave the following statement:

We are doing whatever we can to assist the Philadelphia Police Department as they seek the person or persons responsible for this despicable symbol.

Unlike the incident that took place at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia recently, in which a white man left a noose for his African-American colleague, the noose placement at Graduate Hospital did not appear to be directed toward a particular individual.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Executive Director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations Rue Landau released the following statement regarding the two incidents on Friday afternoon:

"It's appalling that in 2017 anyone would commit such a vicious act as hanging a noose, a symbol of racial animus that has a painful history in this country. These symbols of hate and racially-motivated violence have no place in Philadelphia - our residents and visitors should not have to witness such abhorrent incidents in public or private settings. We urge any witnesses to the incident in Rittenhouse Square to contact the police with any information."

FOX 29 has blurred the image in accordance with station policy not to show symbols of hate.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 29 for updates as we receive more information.