Man Dies in Self-Immolation Outside Trump Courthouse... Police Launch Investigation

Spraying Flyers into the Air and Self-Immolation
Police Investigate Specific Motives and More

A man set himself on fire and died outside the New York courthouse where the criminal trial related to former U.S. President Donald Trump's 'hush money for sexual misconduct' allegations is taking place.

According to foreign media reports including The New York Times (NYT) on the 20th (local time), around 1:30 p.m. the previous day, a man poured a liquid presumed to be flammable on himself and set it on fire in a park opposite the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, where Trump's criminal trial was underway. The man was taken to the hospital after the fire was extinguished but ultimately died.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Foreign media reported that just before setting himself on fire, the man scattered flyers into the air, which contained anti-government conspiracy theories and accusations against New York University (NYU). Police have collected the flyers the man distributed and are investigating the specific motives behind the self-immolation.

The park where the incident occurred has been crowded with protesters, journalists, and onlookers throughout the trial of former President Trump, which began on the 15th. Police explained that the man had traveled from Florida to New York a few days earlier and did not pass through the security checkpoint leading to the park.

Police stated that they are reviewing security guidelines, including whether to restrict access to the park. The side path used by former President Trump to enter and exit the courthouse is restricted.

Just before the self-immolation incident occurred, both the defense team of former President Trump and the prosecution completed the selection of 12 jurors and 6 alternate candidates. Former President Trump was criminally indicted last March on 34 counts, accused of paying 'hush money' to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels through his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to prevent the disclosure of their past sexual relationship shortly before the 2016 presidential election, and of falsifying company records related to the payment.