A man ignited himself in flames outside a Manhattan court where the trial involving former President Donald Trump's hush-money case was underway, according to authorities.
Police reported that the
individual, whose identity was later disclosed as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, poured
a flammable substance over himself before hurling conspiracy-theory pamphlets
into the air. His motivations remain unclear, prompting a swift response from
law enforcement.
Although Trump was present in
the building for jury selection, he exited the premises as the incident
unfolded. Emergency services emphasized that court security remained intact
throughout the episode, allowing the trial to resume following a brief
disruption. Opening statements are slated to commence on Monday.
During a press briefing,
investigators disclosed receiving a 911 call at approximately 1:30 p.m. local
time, alerting them to the self-immolation. Azzarello, a Florida resident who
had recently arrived in New York, had no prior criminal record in the state,
and his family was unaware of his whereabouts.
New York Police Chief Jeffrey
Maddrey recounted Azzarello's actions leading up to the incident, noting his
distribution of propaganda-laden pamphlets before igniting himself. Witnesses
described a chaotic scene, with officers swiftly intervening to extinguish the
flames. Azzarello sustained severe burns and was transported to a hospital burn
center in critical condition.
Julie Berman, a bystander,
recalled the suddenness of the event, expressing confusion over its unfolding.
NYPD investigators subsequently secured the area, gathering scattered pamphlets
for further examination.
While interviews with witnesses are ongoing, authorities confirmed that Azzarello did not communicate any discernible message before his self-immolation. Three NYPD officers and one court officer sustained minor injuries during the rescue effort.
Officials announced plans to
review and enhance security measures surrounding the court premises in light of
the incident.
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