Fire outside New York courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial

In disturbing scenes outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial, an apparent conspiracy theorist set himself on fire.

Man sets himself on fire outside courthouse where Donald Trump is inside. Picture: X/Twitter.

Police have said a man apparently deep into conspiracy theories set himself on fire outside the New York courthouse where former US President Donald Trump is going on trial.

In disturbing scenes, the man self immolated just metres from where the judge and legal teams in Mr Trump’s hush money trial had just finalised the jurors for the high profile case.

Police identified the man as Max Azzarello, a self-described ‘investigative researcher’.Picture: Instagram

The incident occurred at around 1.30pm local time (3.30am Saturday, AEST) live on TV as news network CNN was broadcasting from outside the court in Lower Manhattan.

The man is alive but in a “life threatening condition”.

New York Police said the incident occurred outside a security cordon at the court. But nonetheless it may increase security for the trial.

Man sets himself on fire outside courthouse where Donald Trump is inside. Picture: X/Twitter.

Man identified

Police said the man involved was 37-year-old Max Azzarello from St Augustine, a town on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

His car, which he drove to New York, was last seen in Florida on April 13.

It appeared Mr Azzarello walked into the park opposite the court – where supporters, protesters and media were gathered – took off his jacket and poured an alcohol based liquid over his head before setting himself on fire.

Seconds before he tossed a stack of colourful pamphlets into the air containing “propaganda,” police said.

Former US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before entering the courtroom several hours before the man self-immolated. (Photo by Spencer Platt / POOL / AFP)

‘This could be awful’

A bystander called Dave told the New York Post, that the man “pulled out a can and he poured it over himself”.

“At that point, I thought ‘oh this could be awful’.

“And after pouring himself with obviously something flammable he took out, I think, a lighter then he lit himself on fire,” he added.

“It happened fast. He was up in flames and seemed determined.”

Graphic footage showed Mr Azzarello falling backwards and then twitching on the ground.

News.com.au has chosen not to publish these images.

Passers-by and police rushed to the person while flames continued to rage.

Paramedics then wheeled the heavily injured person away.

He was taken to Manhattan’ Cornell University Hospital burns unit where he is alive but in a critical condition.

Three police officers suffered minor injuries in the process of putting the fire out.

Paramedics attend to a person who lit themselves on fire near Manhattan Criminal Court on April 19, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Police crime tape is strung at the site across from Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City after a man reportedly set himself on fire. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Conspiracy theorist

A police detective talking after the incident said the leaflets Mr Azzarello threw to the ground seemed to be “propaganda based”.

“They were almost like a conspiracy theory type of pamphlet.

“There was information (in them) about Ponzi schemes and that some of our local educational institutions are a front for the mob.

“So a little bit of conspiracy theory going on here”.

The apparent self-immolation occurred as a CNN presenter Laura Coates was live on air.

“A man has emblazoned himself,” she said.

“A man has lit himself on fire.

“There is chaos happening. People are wondering if people are in danger.”

Coates said she “could smell the burning of flesh” as well as “some sort of accelerant”.

People took fire extinguishers and coats to the person in an attempted to put the fire out that lasted for at least one minute.