In horrifying scenes in New York, a man has set himself on fire in protest outside the court where President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial is taking place.
The man was in the designated protest area outside the courthouse.
Footage shows a man kneeling down with his hands behind his head while completely engulfed in flames.
He then falls down, lying on his back on the pavement outside the Manhattan Criminal Court while his whole body is on fire.
Police and an unidentified man rush in to try to put out the fire.
One man is seen throwing a jacket over the protester in an effort to smother the flames.
Another man then sprays him with a fire extinguisher which appears to put the fire out.
WATCH (WARNING: Shocking/graphic scenes):
President Trump was preparing to leave the courthouse before the man set himself on fire.
The incident happened in an area set aside for pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators.
Witnesses said the man doused himself in a fluid before setting himself ablaze.
It is not immediately clear what the man was protesting against.
Police sources reportedly told the New York Post that the man is 20 years old and possibly homeless.
He had been sitting on a bench inside the park when he suddenly threw his belongings on the ground and doused himself in something before going up in flames, according to sources.
“I heard this clattering and it was these papers that he had flung up and they clattered to the ground,” a witness, only identified as Dave, told The Post.
“Then he pulled out a can and he poured it over himself.
“At that point, I thought ‘oh this could be awful’.”
“And after pouring himself with obviously something flammable he took out, I think, a lighter then he lit himself on fire,” he added.
The man was rushed to a hospital by first responders.
His condition is not immediately clear.
The shocking scenes come after jury selection for Trump’s “hush money” trial concluded with 12 people, and six alternatives, chosen.
The jury will decide on the politically motivated charges against Trump brought by Democrat Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Democrat prosecutors are accusing Trump of covering up payments to women to allegedly hide affairs in the run-up to the 2016 election.
However, Trump has denied the alleged affairs which have never been proven.
One of the women, Stormy Daniels, also signed a written statement confirming that no such affair ever happened.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please check back for updates.
https://slaynews.com/news/man-sets-himself-fire-outside-trumps-hush-money-trial-new-york/
No comments:
Post a Comment