Boat Explodes Into Flames After Passengers 'Harassed Group Flying Pride Flags'

A boat in the US went up in flames shortly after its passengers were accused of harassing a group flying pride flags. Watch here:

Footage of the boat ablaze on Moses Lake, Washington state, on Sunday (30 May) evening went viral after Twitter user Cosmic Robbie shared it with the caption: "These people harassed my family because we were flying gay pride flags in Moses Lake Washington, by racing around us and shouting gay slurs.

"Then, their boat literally blew up!"

He also included the hashtag #KarmaIsReal.

Robbie said he was on his boat near Blue Heron Park with his girlfriend, brother and his brother's partner, flying multiple LGBTQ and transgender rights flags, when the other vessel approached and a woman swore at them.

Twitter/@retro_ushi_

"Then the boat quickly made a sharp turn back towards us and went around us," Robbie told BuzzFeed News.

"I then again personally heard someone shout what I thought to be the word 'gays' so I asked my brother to pull out his phone and blatantly start recording in hopes that it would avoid conflict if they noticed."

The boat then circled them around half a dozen times, making waves, Robbie claimed.

He said: "They then attempted to speed away as they left a large cloud of smoke surrounding the area we occupied.

"After a moment, we heard a loud backfire and a sputter come from the boat. Though I could not see the boat, in the direction, I could see a cloud of black smoke rising quickly.

"The driver, possibly embarrassed, then rushed to start the vehicle again...

"Another few moments pass and we hear an incredibly loud explosion come from the direction they were headed.

"Our driver shouted, 'Holy crap! They blew up!'"

Twitter/@retro_ushi_

Robbie said they proceeded to help rescue passengers from the water.

Grant County Sheriff's Office said in a statement: "As of right now, we are trying to make contact with the occupants of the vessel being circled so we can interview them to find out what happened.

"We would like to know more, and once we can interview people, we will be able to know more without relying solely on a brief video."

Sheriff Tom Jones told BuzzFeed News that deputies on the scene were informed that the fire came from the engine compartment in the middle of the boat, but the cause is not yet known.

He added that the owner of the boat and one passenger were burned, but declined treatment.

Topics: US News, crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey