Air Force man sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington DC
According to US emergency services, an individual has self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. The incident occurred around 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Officers from the US Secret Service intervened to extinguish the flames, and the man was subsequently transported to the hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, as reported by the city’s fire department.
Reports from US media later indicated that the individual involved was an active-duty airman, according to a spokesperson from the US Air Force.
The Washington police department, in collaboration with the Secret Service and other pertinent authorities, has initiated an investigation into the matter.
In an official statement, the police department of the US capital specified that the incident took place at “the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, at approximately 1:00 pm”. Police units were dispatched to support the United States Secret Service after an individual set themselves ablaze in front of an embassy within the block.
The statement further mentioned that the adult male was transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
Footage circulating on social media purportedly captures the individual shouting “Free Palestine” as he burned, according to US media reports.
Concerns about a potentially connected suspicious vehicle prompted the dispatch of a bomb disposal unit to the site. However, after no hazardous materials were found, the area was deemed safe.
No embassy staff members were injured in the incident, a spokeswoman for the embassy told the New York Times.
In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said the man was not known to embassy staff.
It is not the first time someone has self-immolated in front of an Israeli diplomatic mission in the US.
In December, a protester set themselves on fire in front of the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia.
Police said the demonstrator used petrol, and a Palestinian flag was found at the scene on that occasion.
