Homeless man who set himself on fire in Jerusalem dies of his injuries

A disabled man who set himself on fire in a central Jerusalem park died of his injuries overnight Tuesday, nearly two days after his self-immolation.

Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital announced his death in a statement and said that the patient “had extensive serious burns to his body and was treated over the past few days in the intensive care unit.”

Hadashot TV news reported that police identified the man as Yaakov Volk only after contacting distant relatives.

On Monday, Volk doused himself in flammable liquid near Liberty Bell Park in the capital and set himself alight.

Passersby helped put out the flames and alerted emergency services, which took him to the hospital in critical condition.

Volk was carrying no papers when he was brought to the hospital and police struggled to identify him.

His motive and the circumstances of the incident are not yet clear.

Volk, who had an amputated leg, was reportedly a local homeless man who had spent time in a hostel for people with psychological problems.