A dramatic scene unfolded on Friday in a park opposite the courthouse in Manhattan where former United States President Donald Trump was undergoing a trial, as a man set himself on fire.
Witnesses reported that he was distributing pamphlets before he doused himself with a flammable liquid and ignited the flames.
Clothing still aflame littered the park area, which was quickly secured by the authorities. Ambulances were seen lined up nearby, ready to respond, while a pungent odor of burning chemicals filled the air, according to AFP.
Social media videos captured by onlookers showed the man fully engulfed in flames before collapsing to the ground. Police and plainclothes officers hurried to smother the flames, with one officer using a handheld fire extinguisher to fight the fire.
Dave, 73, a witness at the scene, told AFP, “A man was throwing pamphlets before he doused himself with an unspecified liquid and set himself on fire.”
The incident coincided with the selection of jurors for Trump’s trial, which involves allegations of a hush money cover-up. Despite the disruption, the trial was set to resume later in the afternoon at 3 pm (1900 GMT).
The New York Police Department confirmed the incident but provided no details about the man’s motives. “A male did light himself on fire outside of the Supreme Courthouse. We’re still gathering details from the field,” a NYPD spokesman stated.
This act of self-immolation is reminiscent of a previous incident in February when a US airman set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, to protest the war in Gaza; he later died from his injuries.
The fire department spokesperson did not immediately comment on the incident, but it was reported that the man had been transported for medical treatment.
The park where the incident occurred is frequently used to manage crowds related to court activities, including media personnel and protesters supporting or opposing Trump.
Amid these events, the trial of Donald Trump, marked as the first criminal trial of a former president, continued under heightened security. The courtroom, located on the 15th floor, was heavily guarded by Secret Service and court police, reflecting the high stakes and tense atmosphere surrounding the proceedings.
