Man who set himself on fire outside Trump’s trial has died

Police crime tape is strung at the site across from Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City after a man reportedly set himself on fire, April 19, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
Police crime tape is strung at the site across from Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City after a man reportedly set himself on fire, April 19, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

A man has reportedly died after setting 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.

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.

NBC News and other US media say that the man had died. NBC News quoted New York City police as saying the hospital where the man was taken had declared him dead.

Officials had said earlier the man, who was in his late 30s, was in critical condition.

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.

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