Man Dies After Self-Immolation Outside Trump Trial

The Washington Post reports:

A man who set himself on fire across the street from the Manhattan courthouse where former president Donald Trump is facing a criminal hush money trial died Friday evening, New York City police confirmed early Saturday.

The man walked into Collect Pond Park around 1:30 p.m., removed several pamphlets from his backpack and tossed them on the ground, Chief Jeffrey Maddrey told reporters after the incident.

He then pulled out a canister of liquid accelerant, doused himself with it and lit himself on fire, the chief said. The man took a few steps before falling onto a police barrier and then to the ground.

The Independent reports:

Max Azzarello, 37, had posted anti-establishment conspiracy theories online, including a lengthy article on Substack which blasted politicians, and billionaires and even made reference to The Simpsons.

The manifesto-style document warned of an impending “apocalyptic fascist world coup.” Azzarello had a long history of posting conspiracy theories and railing against the rich and powerful, according to NYPD officials, who had begun to comb through his social media profiles.

His lengthy Substack post called out a string of people, social media companies and institutions. He also labelled the Covid-19 pandemic as an “economic doomsday device”.

Cultists have been busy photoshopping the sign Azzarello carried at the scene. Others, including the homocon US House candidate seen below, have blamed liberals for Azzarello’s apparent mental illness.

This mentally ill individual lights himself on fire because the rhetoric of extreme left-wing politicians and the irresponsible liberal media have failed an entire generation. We need to address the severe mental health crisis facing Americans of all ages. https://t.co/QAdizTdwDC

— Alison Esposito (@EspositoforNY) April 19, 2024

Max Azzarello posted conspiracies online. He died after setting himself on fire outside Trump’s trialhttps://t.co/ApUlOVgt6W

— The Independent (@Independent) April 20, 2024

“Trump is with Biden.”

This sign in particular motivated me to do some more research because… it was just weird. This is not a traditional “Left” or “Right” protest action. It is purely a conspiracy protest action.

I read the manifesto of the man who set himself on fire… pic.twitter.com/wsFSM617Cy

— Misha Turtle Island 🐢 (@MishaFitton) April 20, 2024