A Florida man reportedly lit himself on fire near the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Friday afternoon.
The incident reportedly took place at around 1:35 p.m. on April 19, while former president Donald Trump’s trial was underway.
According to fire and police officials, St. Augustine resident Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself with an alcohol-based liquid used for cleaning before lighting himself on fire. He reportedly threw flyers into the air while walking through the park before setting the fire. According to the New York Times, Azzarello was in the area of the park that was cordoned off for Trump’s supporters.
According to CNN, the flyers reportedly said “NYU is a mob front” as well as other allegations of the school’s alleged offenses. The New York Times also reported that some of the flyers mentioned former president George W. Bush, former vice president Al Gore, and David Boies, and also contained anti-government conspiracy theories.
As he was on fire, NYPD Chief of Department James Maddery says that Azzarello took a few steps before falling onto a police barrier and down to the ground. Civilians and police and court officers made efforts to put the fire out before FDNY responded to the scene.
Azzarello was badly burned and taken away in an ambulance to the New York Presbyterian-Cornell Burn Unit. He is listed in critical condition.
Four officers suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident. The Bomb Squad checked the park for any additional devices that could be connected but haven’t found any so far. The FDNY Fire Marshal was also on scene investigating.
Though there was a higher police presence in the area at the time, officials say Azzarello did not breach security protocol because he was in a public park. He appeared to walk to the park from Leonard Street before the incident.
The NYPD confirmed that prior to the incident, Azzarello posted on his social media about lighting himself on fire.
Updated at 3:34 p.m. on April 19.
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