A man set himself on fire in a horrifying scene near the Manhattan courthouse where alternate jurors were being picked for Donald Trump's hush-money trial.
Spectators rushed to assist the man and extinguished the flames, according to reports.
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The incident was covered by CNN as it happened, with anchor Laura Coates outside the courthouse.
She first told viewers that there was an active shooter, then quickly corrected that a "man has set fire to himself."
CNN cameras then turned to show the flames in across the street.
"A man has emblazoned himself outside the courthouse," she said, and reported the smell of burning flesh.
"There is chaos and it is happening," Coates said.
The tragedy occurred early afternoon in a designated protest area outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan, ABC News reported. Politico reporter Emily Ngo said police appeared initially slow to respond, possibly because of barricades around the area.
The man was rushed to a nearby hospital on a stretcher by emergency workers while smoke still hung in the air. His condition has not yet been released.
It is not currently known what the person was protesting.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
