Two German artists have confessed to putting white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge in July, exchanging them for the customary red, white and blue.

The pair of artists from Berlin, Mischa Leinkauf and Matthias Wermke, said the stunt wasn't an act of terrorism, but a celebration of "beauty of public space."

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In a phone interview with the artists, the duo said that the white flags, designed with hand-stitched stars and stripes, were also in remembrance of John Roebling, the German-born engineer of the bridge who died on July 22,1869. The artists wanted to commemorate Roebling by hoisting the flags on the anniversary of his death.

The two provided several pictures of their "white-flag project," and said they have also done similar projects in other places, but this was the first time they were greatly noticed.

Following the incident, the New York Police Department started an investigation, but even after they learned of the artists' statement, they claimed that the inquiry would still continue.

A couple Twitter users claimed responsibility for the white flags, but with videos and photographs presented by the German artists, it seems more likely that they are indeed the real culprits.

During the interview, Wermke said that it was not a move against America.

 "From our Berlin background, we were a little surprised that it got the reaction it did. We really didn't intend to embarrass the police," Leinkauf said.

The artists described the bridge as "the most beautiful expression of a public place," and that beauty was what they wanted to capture.

In the interview, they revealed that the project was done on July 22 between 3-5 a.m.

They placed the flags, which they said they made themselves, in backpacks and carried it all the way up the bridge.

The artists noted that when they removed the American flags, they folded it properly "following the United States flag code."

They promised that the flags will be returned and they will face whatever consequences their action may bring.

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