WARNING: This article contains footage and descriptions that some may find disturbing.
A man set himself on fire Friday outside of the trial against former President Donald Trump.
The NYPD confirmed that the man was pronounced dead by hospital staff at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday night, according to Fox News Digital.
Footage captured Friday showed the moment a man set himself on fire outside of Trump’s trial in New York at around 1:35 p.m. local time. The individual was initially identified by outlets as Max Azzarello, an “investigative researcher” who claimed responsibility via a Substack post. Azzarello claimed he committed the act of violence against himself to show people that “we are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup.”
The authenticity of the post has not yet been verified though CNN reported the man was carrying a sign advertising a Substack account prior to setting himself alight.
The incident was captured in real-time by a number of news outlets such as CNN and Fox. It’s believed the individual started the fire using one or more accelerants, as CNN’s Laura Coates described. She noted that she could also smell of some type of “agent being used” as the man was burning in front of her.
CNN cut away from the scene as it happened, leaving viewers to listen to Coates’ vivid description of the unfolding situation.
“We have a fire over here,” Fox’s on-scene reporter Eric Shawn says as the man sets himself on fire. Shawn can then be heard repeatedly saying “turn the camera.” He also described seeing a person on fire before yelling “Get a fire extinguisher” to one of his colleagues. (RELATED: ‘Turn The Camera!’: Listen To CNN, Fox’s Live Reaction To Man Setting Himself On Fire Outside Trump Trial)
Officers and others in the area acted immediately to extinguish the fire, according to The Associated Press. From details given by both Fox and CNN’s reporters, it seems the incident lasted a little under a minute or so.
Footage shared following the incident appeared to show the individual being transported to an ambulance on a gurney. The extremely graphic video shows a charred body of what appears to be a slender-framed male, possibly still moving as he was still alive after the fire was extinguished.
Readers may find this footage extremely disturbing. It should be viewed with caution.
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Someone just set themselves on fire at collected pond park in downtown Manhattan NY
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For licensing email Leeroypress@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/a9pRrtqFfI— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) April 19, 2024
The man allegedly threw pamphlets featuring something to do with the 2000 presidential election into the air before dousing himself with an accelerant and lighting himself on fire, the New York Times reported. (RELATED: ‘I Can Smell The Burning Flesh’: CNN Live Shot Cuts To Man Lighting Self On Fire Outside Trump Trial)
The 2000 election saw former President George Bush face off against former Vice President Al Gore, both of whom were referenced in some of the pamphlets, witnesses claimed. CNN said some of the flyers also read “NYU is a mob front” and made other allegations against the institution.
NYPD said there is no immediate threat to the public at this time in direct relation to this incident.
This is an evolving story, please check back for updates.