A young man shocked onlookers by setting himself on fire near the Lower Manhattan courthouse, where jurors were being selected for the criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump. The man poured accelerant on himself in Collect Pond Park, causing bright orange flames to quickly engulf him. Despite efforts from bystanders to put out the fire, the intense heat could be felt from several hundred feet away.
Eyewitnesses reported that the man threw pamphlets into the air before the incident, some of which mentioned former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Al Gore, and lawyer David Boies. Clad in jeans and a dark gray T-shirt, the man appeared to target an area of the park reserved for supporters of Mr. Trump. As he stood in flames, those nearby fled in terror while others could only watch in shock as he succumbed to the inferno.
The man’s drastic actions and the motives behind them remain unclear, leaving those who witnessed the harrowing event shaken and confused. Police officers arrived on the scene to extinguish the flames and transport the man to an ambulance for medical attention. As details continue to unfold, this disturbing incident serves as a stark reminder of the intense emotions and tensions surrounding the impending trial of the former president.