A man set himself on fire outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place, but he did not appear to have been targeting Trump, officials said.
Burning clothes were strewn in the park, which was locked down by authorities, while ambulances lined up nearby on standby, an AFP correspondent at the scene saw, describing a strong smell of burning chemicals.
Video seemingly taken by witnesses and posted on social media showed a person standing engulfed in flames, then falling to the ground as police rushed to beat out the blaze.
One policeman used a small fire extinguisher in an attempt to control the fire.
Witnesses said the man pulled pamphlets out of a backpack and threw them in the air before he doused himself with a liquid and set himself on fire.
One of those pamphlets, titled: "The True History of the World (Haunted Carnival Edition)," included references to "evil billionaires" but portions that were visible to a Reuters witness did not mention Mr Trump.
Officials said the man, who they said lived until recently in St. Augustine, Florida, did not appear to be targeting Mr Trump or others involved in the trial.
"Right now we are labelling him as sort of a conspiracy theorist and we are going from there," Tarrik Sheppard, a deputy commissioner with the New York Police Department, said at a news conference.
TV reporters described the incident unfolding moments after the full panel of 12 jurors and six alternates was selected for the trial of the US former president.
It appeared hearings in the case would resume after lunch despite the incident, but later than usual at 3pm (8pm Irish time)
"A male did light himself on fire outside of the Supreme Courthouse. We're still gathering details from the field," said a New York Police Department spokesman who gave no motive for the man's action.
Tight security
The latest incident recalls the US airman who set himself alight outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in February, and subsequently died, protesting the war in Gaza.
A fire department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about today's incident, but media reported the man had been taken away for medical treatment.
The self-immolation happened in a park opposite the 100 Centre Street courthouse, which has been used by authorities to corral protesters, both pro-Trump and anti-Trump, as well as well as by some members of the media.
The park, which is close to several courthouses and other buildings, is a popular lunch spot and was cordoned off following the incident.
Mr Trump's criminal trial, the first of a former US president, is being conducted amid tight security in a 15th floor courtroom swarming with Secret Service officers as well as court police.
New York police had promised a major deployment to ensure the trial passes off safely, with the force's head of intelligence John Hart calling it a "major challenge".
