https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4605614-man-sets-himself-on-fire-outside-trump-trial-courthouse/https://www.axios.com/2024/04/19/person-on-fire-trump-trial-manhattan-courthousehttps://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-797962NEW YORK – A person has self-immolated outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Trump’s first criminal trial is ongoing, police confirmed to The Hill.
The incident, which occurred in a park outside the courthouse where protests of Trump’s trial have taken place this week, drew a heavy emergency response. Ambulances lined the block where the person set themself on fire.
Videos of the situation posted on the social media platform X showed at least one person attempting to pat down the fire with a suit jacket, before another individual with a fire extinguisher put out the fire that way.
A witness told PIX11 News they were standing next to a man when he poured a flammable liquid on himself, told her to stand back and then lit himself on fire. The witness said he made statements of a political nature before the incident.
It’s unclear whether the incident is connected to Trump’s trial. In the same timeframe, a full jury panel was officially selected to hear the case.