A man set himself on fire yesterday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
The man burned for several minutes in full view of television cameras that were set up outside the courthouse, where the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president is being held.
Officials said the man, who is in his late 30s, survived and was in critical condition at a hospital.
Witnesses said the man pulled pamphlets out of a backpack and threw them in the air before he doused himself with a liquid and set himself on fire. One of those pamphlets included references to “evil billionaires” but portions that were visible to a Reuters witness did not mention Trump.
The New York Police Department said the man, who they identified as Max Azzarello of St Augustine, Florida, did not appear to be targeting Trump or others involved in the trial.
“Right now we are labelling him as sort of a conspiracy theorist, and we are going from there,” Tarik Sheppard, a deputy commissioner with the Police Department, said at a news conference.
In an online manifesto, a man using that name said he set himself on fire and apologised to friends, witnesses and first responders. The post warns of “an apocalyptic fascist coup” and criticises cryptocurrency and US politicians, but does not single out Trump in particular.
A smell of smoke lingered in the plaza shortly after the incident, and a police officer sprayed a fire extinguisher on the ground. A smoldering backpack and a gas can were visible.
The shocking development came shortly after jury selection for the trial was completed, clearing the way for prosecutors and defence attorneys to make opening statements on Monday in a case stemming from hush money paid to a porn star. The court adjourned later in the afternoon.
The 12 jurors, along with six alternates, will consider evidence in a first-ever trial to determine whether a former US president is guilty of breaking the law.
&uuid=(email))