A man attempts to set himself on fire outside the court where Donald Trump is being tried in New York

In a video posted on social networks, we see the victim, with both hands behind his head, transforming into a living torch. On Friday April 19, a man tried to set himself on fire in front of the Manhattan court in New York, where Donald Trump is appearing. The motivations for his action are currently unknown.

“A man set himself on fire outside the court. We are collecting information on site”, said a New York police spokesperson. The events occurred around 1:30 p.m., or 7:30 p.m. Paris time, in front of media teams deployed in the street to cover the trial. The police rushed to him, but seemed helpless. After long seconds of burning, his body collapsed to the ground. A man then used a fire extinguisher against the blaze.

The drama outside court, the first since the trial opened Monday, unfolded around the time Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the proceedings, proclaimed that the full jury had been selected to judge the former American president, i.e. twelve incumbents and six alternates.