While CNN was reporting live from outside the Manhattan courthouse during jury selection in Trump’s trial, a man set himself on fire directly in front of the building.
The anchor described seeing the man engulfed in flames from head to toe, with his arm visibly burning.
CNN’s Laura Coates said, “We have a man who has literally set fire to himself. A man has emblazoned himself outside of the courthouse just now. Our cameras are turning right now. A man has now lit himself on fire. Outside of the courthouse in Manhattan, where we’re waiting history to be made.”
She reported chaos erupting as NYPD and security details rushed to help, using a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.
People climbed barricades to help separate the public.
“A full jury panel is gone. We are watching a man who was fully emblazoned in the front of the courthouse today. We’re watching multiple fires breaking out around his body and person. We have seen an arm that has been visible that has been engulfed in total flames. There is chaos, and it’s happening. People are wondering right now if people are in danger. I’m looking across the courtyard. There is a man racing with aid,” she said.
She added, “We have members of security details. NYPD is rushing to the scene. They are trying to come now. Officers are on the scene. A fire extinguisher is right now present being put on this man to try to put out…People are climbing over barricades to try to separate the public, to put out the flame on this man.”
The anchor said she could smell burning flesh and chemicals from efforts to extinguish the fire, noting an actual fire extinguisher was being used at the scene.
She continued live reporting what was unfolding.
“He has lit himself on fire in front of the courthouse right now. We are watching as the flames…We can smell the air. I can smell the burning of some sort of flesh. I can smell the burning of some sort of agent being used as well as an accelerant to put that fire…I smell an actual fire extinguisher having been displayed,” Coates said.
