More wild news out of DC, which is becoming even more like Thunderdome on a daily basis: “A man set himself on fire today at the National Mall in Washington DC, prompting a helicopter to land on it, according to multiple reports,” including this one at the New York Post:
Users took to social media to share photos and details of the scene.
“Just witnessed the craziest thing ever… a man set himself on fire and danced down the Mall. #horrifying,” tweeted @LiveMusicGirl.
@Stephanie_Gus wrote, “Sitting at the #nationalmall where a man lot himself on fire. Helicopter landing to take injured…?”
“Emergency crews apparently flew the injured man to a nearby hospital,” the New York Post adds. More at the Huffington Post:
A man was reportedly on fire in front of horrified witnesses at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this afternoon.
Metro Police told Business Insider that they were responding to a report of a man on fire, and some witnesses on Twitter were saying he appeared to start the fire on purpose.
The HuffPo reports that he’s “conscious and breathing,” and adds this detail from the AP wire:
Fire crews responded Friday afternoon to a report of a man on fire at 7th and Madison streets. A witness says she saw a man dump a red canister of gasoline on his head and then set himself on fire.
D.C. Fire Department spokesman Tim Wilson says the man has life-threatening injuries.
His name and age weren’t immediately known.
Thich Quang Duc could not be reached for comment.
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