A man who set himself on fire outside a court hearing the case against Trump in New York has died

A man has died of his injuries after setting himself on fire outside the courthouse in New York City, where the case against former US President Donald Trump is being heard. Maxwell Azzarello, 37, doused himself in a liquid and set himself on fire on Friday before scattering pamphlets in the air. 

These pamphlets contained ‘conspiracy theories’.This incident happened when the jury selection was completed to hear the case against former US President Donald Trump. American broadcaster CBS News confirmed that Maxwell was rushed to the hospital, where he died. Trump was also at the same courthouse with his security guard for jury selection but left during the event. 

On Saturday, New York police confirmed that Maxwell had been pronounced dead by hospital staff. According to the authorities, the security of the court was maintained during the self-immolation incident, and the hearing of the case also continued in the afternoon. Opening statements in the case are likely to be heard on Monday. 

According to investigators, they received an emergency call around 1:30 p.m. on Friday that a man had set himself on fire. The man was later identified as 37-year-old Maxwell Azzarello, who arrived in New York from his home in Florida sometime last Saturday. 

Maxwell had no criminal record in New York, and his family in Florida was unaware that he had arrived in New York. New York Police Chief Jeffrey Madry said Maxwell continued to move around the park outside the courthouse and later pulled flammable liquid and some pamphlets from a bag he was carrying.

 According to the police chief, these pamphlets were based on ‘conspiracy theories’ with ‘propaganda’ written on them. Given the importance of the case, there was a heavy police presence outside the court, and after the attempted self-immolation, police officers rushed to the park, and a fire extinguisher was summoned. 

Maxwell was put on a stretcher, but his body was severely burned. Julie Burman, an eyewitness to the incident, told reporters, ‘ It was hot there, and there was no understanding of the incident. 

New York police were seen collecting pamphlets that Maxwell had scattered before he set himself on fire. Investigators are still talking to witnesses who say Maxwell didn’t say anything else before he set himself on fire. Three New York police officers and a court staff member who were trying to put out the fire also suffered minor injuries while attempting to rescue Maxwell.