A MAN who set himself on fire outside the court where former president Donald Trump’s hush-money trial is being held has died.
Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself in a liquid before throwing a number of conspiracy-theory pamphlets into the air.
It happened as the jury selection for Trump’s trial was completed and he was taken to hospital on Friday in critical condition where he later died, CBS News has confirmed.
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Trump (below) was in the building to attend the jury selection, where he has had a security detail, although the former president left during the incident.
New York City police said early on Saturday that Mr Azzarello was declared dead by hospital staff, NBC reported.
Court security was not breached in the incident, emergency officials said and the case resumed later in the afternoon.
Investigators said they had received a 911 emergency call around 1.30 local time and that a man had lit himself on fire.
New York police chief Jeffrey Maddrey said Mr Azzarello was seen “shuffling around” in the park before reaching into a bag for the flammable liquid and pamphlets.
The police chief said the pamphlets were “propaganda-based” and that they were regarding a “conspiracy theory”.
There was a huge police presence outside the courthouse due to the trial and officers quickly ran into the park shouting for a fire extinguisher.
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Mr Azzarello was then carried away on a stretcher and investigators are still interviewing witnesses.
Tree New York officers and one court officer had minor injuries after helping to extinguish the blaze.
Officers said they will now reassess security outside the court.
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