Man Set Himself on Fire Outside Trump’s Trial

A man set himself on fire outside of the Manhattan courthouse the moment jury selection was finalized in the criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump.

The self-immolation was carried live by several news networks, who initially believed a fire had broken out in the park, and quickly cut away after realizing someone was aflame. The incident took place in a part across the street from the court as news crews reported that the jury in Trump’s trial had been officially seated. The park is a popular spot where protesters, press, and curious onlookers gathered during the first week of the trial. 

The man, who has not yet been identified, was quickly reached by police and onlookers, who threw jackets on him in an attempt to quell the flames as first responders rushed to secure a fire extinguisher. 

Minutes after the flames were extinguished, news crews on the scene reported that the man was alive and being treated by medics. He was removed from the scene on a stretcher shortly after for further treatment. According to Fox News, who unintentionally carried the immolation live and spoke to witnesses at the scene, the man threw a stack of “pink and white and yellow and green pages” around him before dousing himself in gasoline and setting himself on fire. 

“I saw the flames and thought someone set a garbage can on fire. Not imagining at all it could be a human being who self-immolated,” Fox News’s Eric Shawn said after witnessing the incident.

CNN, which also briefly aired the self-immolation, initially believed there was an active shooter in the park. “There is chaos that is happening, people are wondering right now if people are in danger,” CNN Anchor Laura Coates reported as the chaos unfolded around her.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.