- A man has set himself on fire outside the New York courtroom where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place.
- Moments after a full jury had been selected to hear the trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, the man’s body was reportedly engulfed in flames for at least three minutes outside.
- A CNN anchor said on air: “I see a totally charred human being.”
- The man used a flammable liquid to set himself on fire in the designated protest area outside the court, with horrified bystanders screaming and fleeing.
- US media has named the victim as Maxwell Azzarello, from St Augustine in Florida.
- In a press conference, police said he appeared to be a “conspiracy theorist” and said he threw around “propaganda” containing claims about Ponzi schemes and the mafia before starting the fire.
- Police said Mr Azzarello had poured an alcohol-based cleaning liquid on himself before lighting the fire, and that he had been taken to a local burn unit in a critical condition.
- Mr Azzarello published a blog post on Friday that opened with the words: “My name is Max Azzarello, and I am an investigative researcher who has set himself on fire outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan.”
- The rest of the post made only a handful of references to Mr Trump, apart from claiming he was a member of a “secret kleptocracy” along with every previous president and their election rival.
- Police with fire extinguishers rushed to the scene. Sirens could be heard blaring as correspondents reported smelling the burning of flesh. The heat of the flames could be felt from 100ft away, the New York Times reported.
- A smouldering backpack and a gas can were visible afterwards, according to one witness. Police taped off the scene.
- Broadcasters recorded what happened – some then cut away and apologised for showing the footage – through the metal barricades in place for Mr Trump’s trial. The scene is close to several courthouses and other buildings.
- A New York Police Department spokesman said: “A male did light himself on fire outside of the Supreme Courthouse. We’re still gathering details from the field.”
- Mr Trump did not respond to questions from reporters about the incident. His campaign offered “condolences to the traumatised witnesses” and paid tribute to “the great first responders of the City of New York”.
- Mr Trump’s criminal trial is being conducted amid tight security in a 15th floor courtroom swarming with Secret Service officers as well as court police.
- The New York Police Department has promised a major deployment to ensure that the trial passes off safely, with John Hart, the force’s head of intelligence calling it a “major challenge”.
- The 12 jurors, along with six alternates will consider evidence in the first ever criminal trial to determine whether a former US president is guilty of breaking the law.
