Trump hush money trial: Man sets himself on fire outside NY court; full jury, six alternates selected

A man set himself on fire, on Friday (Apr 19) outside the New York courthouse where former United States President Donald Trump’s historic trial was underway, according to American media reports. The police later confirmed the incident and said that the person isin critical condition and wasin the Cornell Burn Unit.

The shocking incident took place after the full panel, which included 12 jurors and six alternates, was selected. The judge after the selection of the full panel said that he expects the trial to begin on Monday (Apr 22).

The charges are related to the case where Trump has been accused of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and falsifying business records to cover the payments.

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Man sets himself on fire

New York Police Department ChiefJeffreyMaddrey said that theman walked into the centreof Collect Pond Park, which is directly across from the Manhattancourthouse where Trump is on trial. Subsequently, he opened his backpack and took out pamphlets that he scattered in the park.

“And then he pulls out a canister and pours some kind of liquid on himself...and he lights himself on fire," saidMaddrey. The people and officers around the mantry toput the fire out using their coats and fire extinguishers.

He also noted that the man did notbreach security protocols as the park was open to the public.

WATCH |Jury selected for Donald Trump's historic criminal hush money trial

“I see a totally charred human being,” one of the CNN reporters said on air. A person on the scene told Reuters that he first heard the man throwing pamphlets into the air, then saw him douse himself from a can before setting himself on fire.

“At that point, I said, ‘Oh shoot, what am I going to see?’” the witness, who called himself Dave and declined to give his last name, told the news agency, adding that the man burned for several minutes.

A New York emergency official said that the person was taken away on a stretcher after apparently setting himself on fire as the police quickly secured the scene of the incident.

Also Read |Only one-third of Americans think Trump did something illegal as hush money trial gets underway

One of the pamphlets, according to Reuters, referred to “evil billionaires” and called on people to “expose this corruption.”

Kaz Daughtry, the New York Police Department deputy commissioner of operations took to X and said "there are no public safety threats, please expect increased traffic congestion in the area as our detectives conduct their investigation."

‘We have our full panel’

The shocking incident took place outside the Manhattan courthouse as the alternates for the jury were being selected. “We have our full panel,” said Judge Juan Merchan after the selection of the five alternates.

After the selection, the last five alternates, four women and one man, were sworn in. Merchan expects the trial to begin on Monday and instructed jurors not to discuss the case with others or research it.

He also said that there are 18 jurors in total and we cannot start until all are present each day.

Also Read |Trump's hush money trial: Court selects 12 jurors & an alternate, announces 'we have our jury'

Trump is the first-ever former US president to go on trial for criminal charges.

However, the former president has pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.

The indictment includes charges of accounting fraud and falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

(With inputs from agencies)