Man who set himself on fire outside Trump's Manhattan hush money trial dies
20 April, 2024
A man who set himself on fire outside the Manhattan court where former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial is being held has died, according to US media. Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself in a liquid before throwing conspiracy-theory pamphlets into the air.
A man, Maxwell Azzarello, set himself on fire outside the Manhattan court where Donald Trump's trial is underway. He threw conspiracy-theory pamphlets before igniting himself and later died in the hospital. Trump was present but left the scene. Security wasn't breached, and the trial resumed. Three officers sustained minor injuries. Motive remains unclear.
It happened as the jury selection for Mr Trump's trial was completed. He was taken to hospital on Friday in critical condition, where he later died, NBC and CNN reported.
Mr Trump was in the building to attend jury selection, where he has had a security detail, but the former president left during the incident. New York City police said early on Saturday that Mr Azzarello was declared dead by hospital staff, NBC reported. Emergency officials said court security had not been breached in Friday's incident. The case, which had just completed alternate jury selection, resumed later in the afternoon. Opening statements are expected to begin on Monday.
Investigators said they had received a 911 emergency call at around 13:30 local time (18:30 BMT) telling them that a man had lit himself on fire.
They identified him as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, who had arrived in New York from his home in Florida sometime in the past week. He had no criminal record in New York, and his family in Florida knew he had travelled to the city.
New York Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said Mr Azzarello was seen "shuffling around" in the park before reaching into a bag for the flammable liquid and pamphlets.
Chief Maddrey said the pamphlets were "propaganda-based," adding that they referred to a "conspiracy theory."
There was a massive police presence outside the courthouse because of the trial, and officers quickly ran into the park shouting for a fire extinguisher. Mr Azzarello was carried away on a stretcher, his body badly burned. The police said he was taken to a hospital burn centre in critical condition.
Witness Julie Berman told reporters: "It was hot, and it didn't make a lot sense. The whole thing happened so fast... it took me about 20 seconds to figure out what was happening."
NYPD investigators were later seen collecting pamphlets that Mr Azzarello had scattered before self-immolating. They have deemed the area safe.
Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and said he didn't appear to say anything before setting fire to himself.
Three NYPD officers and one court officer had minor injuries after helping to extinguish the blaze.
Officials said they will now reassess security outside the court.
Source: www.bbc.com
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