Aviva Fried with AFP / Photo credit: MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
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8:06 a.m., April 20, 2024
A person attempted to set himself on fire Friday outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump is appearing. The events occurred around 1:30 p.m., in front of media teams deployed in the street to cover the trial. The reasons are unknown at this time.
A man tried to set himself on fire on Friday in front of the Manhattan court where Donald Trump is appearing, for a reason currently unknown, police announced. “A man set himself on fire outside the courthouse. We are gathering information at the scene,” a New York police spokesperson said.
In a video posted on social networks, we see the victim, both hands behind his head, transforming into a living torch, towards which police officers rush, who seem helpless. After long seconds of burning, his body sags to the ground. A man then uses a fire extinguisher against the blaze.
A strong smell of hydrocarbons
The events occurred around 1:30 p.m., in front of media teams deployed in the street to cover the trial. 30 minutes later, a strong smell of hydrocarbons still floated at this location, according to an AFP journalist on site.
Donald Trump appears on trial in a case of hidden payments. He is accused of having bought the silence of Stormy Daniels, a former porn actress, a few days before the 2016 presidential election, won by the New York billionaire at the expense of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.