Man sets himself on fire in protest area outside Trump hush money trial in Manhattan – NBC Chicago

A man set himself on fire outside the courtroom where former President Donald Trump faces charges in a hush money case, witnesses and officials said.

The individual set himself on fire Friday after 1:30 p.m. in the designated protest area outside the trial, outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan, according to witnesses. The video appears to show the moments after the self-immolation, as the man lay on the ground burning, appearing convulsive at times.

There was already a heavy NYPD presence outside the building due to the high-profile nature of the trial, and officers rushed to retrieve what appeared to be a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Their first attempt to put out the fire failed and a video emerged showing the man trying to sit up.

The fire was extinguished minutes later after police brought in a larger fire extinguisher, leaving a smoky scene outside the court as a group of journalists and witnesses looked on.

The man was taken by EMS to New York Cornell Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition, the FDNY said.

The nature of the demonstration was not immediately clear, but the man had leaflets and buttons with different messages on him, according to a police source.

Three police sources said the man who set himself on fire appears to have been a believer in certain conspiracy theories and may have had emotional problems. He may have announced online in advance his intention to set himself on fire.

Further information was not immediately available.

It came as a full jury of 12 and six alternates sat in the case against Trump, the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trial will put Trump in a Manhattan courtroom for weeks, forcing him to juggle his dual roles as a criminal defendant and political candidate in his hotly contested race against President Joe Biden.

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This is a developing story. Please check again for updates.