A man self-immolated Friday outside the New York courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial was being held, authorities said.
According to the New York City Police Department, Maxwell Azzarello, 38, of St. Augustine, Florida, entered Collect Pond Park near the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse around 1:30 p.m. and searched his backpack. I started.
He then pulled out “numerous” pamphlets and threw them into the air,” NYPD Chief Jeffrey B. Madley said.
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Maxwell Azzarello was arrested on August 24, 2023 in St. Johns County, Florida on suspicion of criminal damage to property, criminal mischief, and disturbing the peace. (St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department)
“He then pulled out a canister and poured some type of liquid on himself. The liquid was likely an accelerant. He then set himself on fire,” Madley said.
As Azzarello was engulfed in flames, he took a few steps before falling over a police fence and falling to the ground. Park users, court staff and police officers tried to put out the fire with coats and other items. The fire was eventually put out by police.
Azzarello was taken to a burn center in critical condition.
“His condition is not good,” said an NYPD official.
Fire Chief Laura Kavanagh said four police officers were exposed to the fire and suffered minor injuries. Authorities said they learned Azzarello arrived in New York earlier this week. His family did not know he was in the city.
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The pamphlet that Maxwell Azzarello threw during former President Donald Trump’s trial for his alleged self-immolation is left in a park across from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York City. (Getty Images; St. Augustine Sheriff)
Pamphlets found at the scene were “propaganda-based” and promoted far-reaching conspiracy theories, including that “some of our educational institutions are fronts for insurgents,” authorities said.
A police official said, “It appears that he posted about this incident online before the incident.”
Police said the park was open to the public at the time of the incident, but Azzarello did not violate any security protocols.
“We will be talking with our federal partners to determine if we need to increase security and possibly close the park,” Madley said.
The scene where a man self-immolated on Friday. (Fox 5 New York)
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Witness William Scheffler said he was inspecting the park where Trump supporters were talking when he saw a man dousing himself with gas.
“This guy just started getting gassed,” he said. fox 5 new york. “He doused his body with so much gas that he set himself on fire.”
Officials said the Secret Service was aware of what happened outside the courthouse.
