Police are searching for a woman who burned an Australian flag at Sydney’s War Memorial on Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the memorial in Hyde Park at about 12.40pm after reports of a small fire inside the building.

Police found an Australian flag that had been removed from the memorial and set alight in the Flame of Remembrance.

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CCTV footage of the incident shows a woman of Caucasian appearance, aged between 35 and 45 with light brown, shoulder length hair.

She was wearing a black and white dress with black long sleeves and ballet flats at the time of the incident.

Can you help find this woman wanted after the Australian flag was set on fire at the Hyde Park War Memorial pic.twitter.com/lu6TYMY3Hh

— NSW Police (@nswpolice) October 1, 2014

Superintendent Mark Walton said police were investigating the incident as a “malicious act”.

He said no contact had been made with the woman before or after the incident and her motive was unknown.

“The ANZAC Memorial is dedicated to all Australians who served their country in war and it’s quite distressing that this incident has occurred at such a sacred property today,” he said.

NSW Minister for Veterans Affairs Victor Dominello and RSL NSW President Don Rowe have condemned the incident.

“Not only is this criminal behaviour, it’s deeply disrespectful of the memorial and all it represents,” Mr Dominello said in a statement.

“It is deeply concerning that any person would seek to desecrate the Australian flag.

“Doing so on this sacred site makes it all the more reprehensible.”

Mr Rowe urged members of the public to come forward with information.

“Veterans and their families will be outraged by this attack on a sacred monument dedicated to thousands of Australians who have fought and died for their country,” he said.

Flag burning or desecration is not illegal in Australia. 

The Sydney War Memorial shut down by police after woman allegedly set the Australian flag on fire pic.twitter.com/hwLfhRe8D9 — BuzzFeed Australia (@BuzzFeedOz) October 1, 2014

Anyone with any information about the incident or the woman captured on tape should contact police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

– with AAP