Man Self-Immolates Outside Trump Trial Venue in Manhattan
A man ignited himself outside the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush-money trial is underway, according to police.
Excel Magazine International learnt that the incident occurred as the former president was inside the building for jury selection.
Identified as 37-year-old Maxwell Azzarello of Florida, the man reportedly doused himself with a flammable liquid and dispersed conspiracy-theory pamphlets before setting himself on fire.
The motives behind his actions remain unclear as emergency responders rushed to the scene around 13:30 local time following a 911 call.
New York Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey reported that Azzarello, who has no criminal record in New York and whose family was unaware of his travel to the city, was observed acting suspiciously in the park prior to the incident.
“He was shuffling around before he abruptly reached into his bag, pulled out the liquid and the pamphlets, and lit himself on fire,” Maddrey explained.
The pamphlets, described as “propaganda-based,” suggested affiliations with conspiracy theories.
The immediate area was swarmed by law enforcement due to the high-profile nature of the trial.
Officers were quick to react, rushing toward Azzarello and extinguishing the flames. He was subsequently transported to a local burn center in critical condition.
The incident briefly disrupted court proceedings, which resumed in the afternoon following the completion of alternate jury selection. Opening statements are slated for Monday.
Witnesses, including bystander Julie Berman, expressed shock and confusion over the rapid unfolding of events. “It was hot, and it didn’t make a lot of sense. The whole thing happened so fast… it took me like 20 seconds to figure out what was going on,” Berman told reporters.
In the aftermath, police confirmed that three NYPD officers and one court officer sustained minor injuries while assisting.
NYPD investigators have since collected the scattered pamphlets and deemed the area secure, though they continue to interview witnesses.
Authorities are reassessing security measures outside the courthouse in light of the incident.
